In view of the special work arrangement for Government departments to reduce the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) announced today (January 28) the Registration and Permit Office in its Kowloon Bay headquarters will be closed from tomorrow (January 29) until further notice. During the period, members of the public may put their applications, with cheque for payment, into the drop-in box located at the G/F lobby of the department's headquarters during office hours (9am to 5.15pm, Monday to Friday).

     Call 2808 3819 for the collection arrangement of Certificate of Registration or other approved permits.

     The EMSD Gallery and the EMSD Education Path will also be closed tomorrow until further notice.

     To tie in with special work arrangement for Government departments implemented after the Lunar New Year holidays (starting from January 29), a spokesman for the Labour Department (LD) announced today (January 28) that public services and facilities under the department will be temporarily suspended and closed until February 2. LD will review the situation in due course and announce the arrangements thereafter.

     "Members of the public scheduled for appointments for LD services during the suspended period will be individually informed of the alternative arrangements," the spokesman said.

     For those who have made medical clearance appointment with the department's Occupational Medicine Units, please reschedule your appointment through the internet or telephone voice booking system.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The Hospital Authority (HA) has earlier activated Emergency Response Level in public hospitals in light of the latest situation of the novel coronavirus.
      
     The HA noted that the Government has appealed to employers to make flexible work arrangement for employees in accordance with their operational needs in order to reduce the risk of the spread of novel coronavirus in the community.
      
     The HA spokesperson said, "As the HA, public hospitals and clinics play a key role in the battle against the epidemic, all staff in the HA and hospital clusters, from frontline to supporting staff, will report duty as normal after the Lunar New Year holidays to serve the community."
      
     "To enhance the infection control measures, public hospitals have temporarily suspended visiting arrangements and required universal masking for all people who enter public hospitals and clinics. The HA will also strengthen infection control measures and regular cleaning arrangements at other workplace."
      
     The HA has also set up a staff hotline and social media platform to actively listen to staff opinions and address their concerns and requests. The HA will also deploy manpower in a flexible manner to tie in with the epidemic control work of public hospitals.
      
     The HA expressed its sincere appreciation to all staff again for their professionalism in maintaining normal service operations, and working together to safeguard the well-being of the community.

     To implement the special work arrangement for Government departments after the Lunar New Year holidays that was announced by the Government today (January 28), the office premises of the Companies Registry in the Queensway Government Offices and One Kowloon, Kowloon Bay will be closed from tomorrow (January 29) until further notice. 
      
     During the interim, customers can continue to use the Registry's electronic filing and search services provided through the "e-Registry" (www.eregistry.gov.hk), Cyber Search Centre (www.icris.cr.gov.hk) and the website of the Registry for Trust and Company Service Providers ( www.tcsp.cr.gov.hk).
      
     Please check the latest announcements on the Registry’s website (www.cr.gov.hk) for any updates.  
      
     For enquiries, please call 2867 2600.

     To implement the special work arrangement for Government departments in order to reduce the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) today (January 28) announced that all its services will be temporarily suspended from tomorrow (January 29) to February 2, 2020.
      
     During the temporary suspension of services, deadlines for tax payments, lodgement of objections and holdover applications, submission of tax returns and information will be automatically extended to February 3, 2020. Penalties for failure to submit documents for stamping due to the suspension of services will be remitted provided that the documents concerned are submitted on the extended deadline of February 3, 2020. Taxpayers who need to have tax clearance before leaving Hong Kong during the temporary suspension of services should notify the IRD of their correspondence addresses in Hong Kong and overseas and Hong Kong contact telephone numbers (if any) by email (taxctr1@ird.gov.hk or taxctr2@ird.gov.hk) for alternative arrangements.
      
     The IRD will review the situation and make necessary announcement.