Tag Archives: China

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department today (December 17) announced that all Hong Kong public libraries, mobile libraries and students’ study rooms will close at 5pm on Christmas Eve (December 24) and New Year’s Eve (December 31).
 
     On Christmas Day (December 25), Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year’s Day (January 1, 2022), all Hong Kong public libraries, mobile libraries and students’ study rooms will be closed. The opening hours of all public libraries on December 27 will be the same as those for public holidays.
 
     Moreover, system maintenance work will be carried out from 00.30am on December 25 to 11.59pm on December 26, and from 00.30am to 11.59pm on January 1, 2022, during which the following services will be suspended:
* library mobile app services and Internet and telephone renewal services;
* other online library services, including the library catalogue, borrowers’ record enquiries, reservation of library materials and Internet and Digital Service Workstations and electronic resources (e-Books and e-Databases); and
* self-service library stations (readers may still return books to the stations before the due date, and the loan record will be updated on the next working day).

     Details can be obtained from notices posted at all public libraries and the library website at www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/library-notices/library-notices-list.html. For enquiries, please call 2921 0208. read more

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr John Lee, and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, visited the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre this morning (December 17) to inspect the preparatory work progress of the central counting station for the Legislative Council General Election, including the preparations for the counting procedures, and gave encouragement to counting staff participating in practical sessions and simulated activities there and called on colleagues to devote themselves to running the upcoming election.
 
     Speaking to the personnel on-site, Mr Lee said, “This election is the largest in scale in Hong Kong’s history. A record high of some 40,000 electoral staff will carry out duties related to polling and counting procedures. To enable this election to be conducted smoothly, electoral staff should be committed to work, familiarise themselves with the procedures, and be flexible and adaptive to changes. I call on every colleague to be diligent and devote your full strength to help the Government to run this historic election for Hong Kong.”

     He said that the Legislative Council General Election is an important milestone in improving the electoral system and is of great significance. Voters in Hong Kong will unprecedentedly elect 90 Legislative Council Members who will fulfil the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”, will be committed to the interests of national development and the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and will be genuinely committed to serving the public, truly constructive for society and refuse to be destructive or be foreign agents.

     He also appealed to members of the public to exercise their civil rights this Sunday (December 19) by casting their votes for Hong Kong – their home. Voters are encouraged to cast their votes to make the election a success so that forces that aim to sabotage the election will not succeed.

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     A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (December 17) that the free COVID-19 testing services for targeted groups (including high-exposure groups such as staff and personnel working in markets, licensed hawkers and staff of cold stores) arranged by the FEHD will end on December 31. The deadline for online registration is at 5pm on December 24. 

     People in high-exposure groups who have already registered and undergone testing may register again. The testing agency (Health Hope International Medical Laboratory Limited) will be responsible for the provision of one-stop services covering specimen taking and testing. For details of the testing programme, please call the hotline of the testing agency at 5722 3847 or visit the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/events/covid19_test/info_20200926.html). The free deep throat saliva testing services provided by the FEHD is not applicable to the compulsory testing notice. No SMS notification of the testing results will be issued.

     The spokesman said, “To complement the dynamic ‘zero infection’ strategy, the Government has taken a more stringent anti-epidemic measure since October and has fully implemented by phases the enhanced testing arrangement for high-risk and high-exposure groups. The testing of all targeted group persons (whether they have completed a vaccination course or not) must be done by using combined nasal and throat swabs collected by professionals. Free COVID-19 testing services will continue to be provided for eligible persons of targeted groups at community testing centres (CTCs). They have to make bookings online (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en) for receiving the free testing service at the CTCs upon presentation of relevant document proof.”

     The Government has earlier on stipulated that cold store practitioners (including full-time, part-time, casual and relief staff, and staff under a hire-of-service contract with cold stores) who would enter the warehouse inside the cold store in which articles of food are stored under refrigeration; or come into contact with or be involved in loading/unloading articles of food which require refrigeration, are required to undergo testing once every three days if they have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course, while those who have not yet completed a vaccination course (including staff who are unfit to receive vaccination at the moment because of health reasons) are required to get tested on a daily basis. They are required to present a relevant vaccination record or medical certificate, and valid identity document stamped by the cold store operator for the CTCs’ staff to receive the free tests. 

     After December 31, eligible staff and personnel working in public markets, and licensed hawkers within the targeted group can continue, upon presentation of relevant identification documents, to receive a free test every 28 days at a CTC on a voluntary basis to safeguard their health and that of their families and co-workers.

     To minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission, the spokesman appealed to the groups concerned to continue to comply with the relevant regulations on prevention and control of disease in a concerted and persistent manner, and to maintain personal and environmental hygiene continuously and take adequate personal protection measures at all times. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:       The Hong Kong Monetary Authority would like to remind the members of the public that the Faster Payment System (FPS) service will be unavailab… read more

     The Government gazetted today (December 17) the proposed construction of a covered footbridge to connect Hoi Tai Street, Quarry Bay Park Phase II and the proposed commercial development at Hoi Yu Street in Quarry Bay for public use.

     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plan and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:

Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

Eastern Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Eastern Law Courts Building,
29 Tai On Street, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong

District Lands Office, Hong Kong East,
19/F, Southorn Centre,
130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
 
     The gazette notice, scheme, plan, and location plan are available at www.thb.gov.hk/eng/psp/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.htm.
 
     Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Housing an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:
 

• By post or by hand to the Transport and Housing Bureau’s drop-in box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
• By fax to 2868 4643; or
• By email to gazettethb@thb.gov.hk.

 
     A notice of objection should describe the objector’s interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Housing not later than February 15, 2022. read more