To align with the gradual resumption of the provision of basic public services by the Government, the Transport Department (TD) said today (February 8) that the driving test (road test) services will fully resume from February 22. Candidates who have been scheduled to take a road test on or after February 22 should attend the test according to the test date, time and driving test centre specified in the driving test appointment letter. Candidates affected by the suspension of the driving test (road test) will be notified individually of their rescheduled test dates.
       
     As regards anti-pandemic measures to reduce the risk of the spread of the virus, all candidates participating in a driving test (road test) must wear a surgical mask inside the test centres and throughout the test, clean their hands with alcohol-based sanitiser before entering the centre office, and undergo body temperature screening arranged by the TD on-site. If a candidate does not wear a surgical mask, refuses to undergo body temperature screening or has a body temperature higher than 37.5 degrees Celsius, the candidate will not be allowed to enter the test venue to take the test and the test will be rescheduled. 
      
     The TD urges candidates not to attend a driving test if they are unwell, and advises that they should consult a doctor promptly. Applicants who are absent from a driving test on medical grounds may submit their postponement applications with the original sick leave certificate/medical certificate to the Driving Test Appointment Office (DTAO) of the TD within one month from the test date for follow-up and rescheduling of the test date.
      
     Driving test (written test Part A) and taxi written test services, and driving test appointment services (including walk-in counter service of the DTAO, online booking service for driving test appointments and telephone booking service for repeater early test appointments) will continue to be suspended until further notice. The TD will continue to closely monitor the development of the pandemic and align with the anti-epidemic measures implemented by the Government, and will resume all these services under a phased approach and in an orderly manner.

     Candidates who would like to apply for postponement/temporary cancellation of a driving test appointment or change of driving test region during the suspension period of the DTAO may submit the original of the signed application letter, a copy of the identity document and the original driving test appointment letter by post to the DTAO (address: Transport Department, 2/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon).  
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     For enquiries, please contact the DTAO at 2771 7723 from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday.

     The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau is inviting a new round of applications under the Basic Law Promotion Activity Sponsorship Scheme and Basic Law Promotion Research Sponsorship Scheme (Sponsorship Scheme).
 
     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has been promoting the Basic Law to members of the public through various channels. The Sponsorship Scheme aims to promote the Basic Law among different sectors of the community and to encourage different groups or organisations to conduct research on ways to further enhance the promotion of the Basic Law, with a view to enhancing public understanding of and support for the "one country, two systems" principle and the Basic Law. 
 
     Application information can be downloaded from the Basic Law website (www.basiclaw.gov.hk/en/sponsorship/index.html). The deadline for application is March 31, 2021.
 
     For enquiries, please contact the Secretariat of the Sponsorship Scheme at 2810 2106.

     The Government announced today (February 8) that the public consultation period for the Real-name Registration Programme for Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Cards will be extended to March 20 to allow more time for the relevant industry and members of the public to study and discuss the proposal, and submit their views to the Government.

     The Government launched a public consultation on January 30 on the proposal to implement the Real-name Registration Programme for SIM Cards through a regulation made pursuant to the Telecommunications Ordinance. The regulation will provide the necessary legal basis for telecommunications operators to register, collate and keep the registration information of users as required. The proposal seeks to plug the loophole caused by the anonymous nature of SIM cards, especially pre-paid SIM (PPS) cards, and facilitate the prevention and detection of crimes related to the use of PPS cards, thereby maintaining people's confidence in the integrity of telecommunications services in Hong Kong. The consultation was originally scheduled to end on February 28.
      
     The consultation document can be downloaded from the website of the Communications and Creative Industries Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (www.cedb.gov.hk/ccib/en/consultations-and-publications/SIM_Eng.pdf). Members of the public may submit their views to the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau by email (SIM@cedb.gov.hk), fax (2511 1458) or post (Communications and Creative Industries Branch, Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, 21/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong).

     The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Tenders to be held on February 16:
 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, February 8, 2021 is 100.7 (same as last Saturday's index).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, February 6, 2021 was 100.7 (down 0.3 against last Friday's index).