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Transport Department to continue to implement special work arrangements

     To align with the Government’s latest announcement on special work arrangements for government employees, the Transport Department (TD) announced today (January 7) that the special work arrangements at the TD’s Licensing Offices will continue until further notice. The Licensing Offices at Admiralty, Cheung Sha Wan, Kwun Tong and Sha Tin will continue to suspend walk-in counter services, but will provide counter services for applications submitted by applicants with online appointments and process applications submitted by drop-in boxes, by post, or online (except for the direct issue of a full Hong Kong driving licence).
    
     The TD appeals to members of the public in need to use the online appointment services as far as possible. Those who cannot make a prior appointment may submit applications by post or online, or via the drop-in boxes placed at the Licensing Offices from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday.
    
     It is anticipated that the queuing time for counter services with an appointment will be longer under the special work arrangements. The TD appeals for patience and understanding from members of the public who have submitted applications or are required to queue up for counter services. To avoid unnecessary delays, the public should submit applications three to four weeks before the expiry dates as far as practicable.
     
     In addition, all driving test services, including road tests, the written test (Part A) and the taxi written test, and driving test appointment services will continue to be suspended until further notice. The TD will notify the affected candidates individually of the rescheduled test dates after resumption of the driving test services. During the suspension period of the driving test appointment services, candidates who would like to submit applications for test postponement/temporary cancellation of a driving test appointment or change of driving test region may submit the applications within two weeks after resumption of the driving test appointment services.
    
     Regarding the vehicle examination services, the TD’s Vehicle Examination Centres will continue to provide vehicle examination services for vehicles with an appointment from Monday to Friday. Since the vehicle concerned has to pass the examination before the vehicle licence can be renewed, members of the public should make a vehicle examination appointment as early as possible.
 
     For enquiries, members of the public can contact the relevant offices at the following numbers:

Hong Kong Licensing Office                                      2804 2636
Kowloon Licensing Office                                          2150 7728
Kwun Tong Licensing Office                                      2775 6835
Sha Tin Licensing Office                                           2606 1468
Driving Test Appointment Office                                2771 7723
To Kwa Wan Vehicle Examination Centre                   2364 7211/2333 3112
Sheung Kwai Chung Vehicle Examination Centre        2424 5215
Kowloon Bay Vehicle Examination Centre                   2759 7036
New Kowloon Bay Vehicle Examination Centre            2751 8862 read more

East Asia

Mobile specimen collection stations and community testing centres provide free testing for persons subject to compulsory testing

     With the prolonged local COVID-19 epidemic situation, there has been a widespread number of confirmed cases across all districts. Some of the confirmed cases have been asymptomatic, which indicates the existence of many silent transmission chains within the community. The Government has exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to cover a number of buildings across the territory under compulsory testing notices and require residents, workers and visitors to undergo testing. To facilitate persons covered under the compulsory testing notices to undergo testing, the Government has arranged for testing service providers to set up mobile specimen collection stations at a number of locations in various districts to provide free and convenient testing services for them.
 
     The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations already in operation in various districts providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for the general public are in the Annex. Two new mobile specimen collection stations will be set up at Fung Chak House, Choi Wan (II) Estate, Wong Tai Sin, and Chung On Estate Football Field, Ma On Shan, while the mobile specimen collection stations at Heung Sze Wui Street in Tai Po, Sha Tsui Road in Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin Square, Tung Chung North Park and Wong Chuk Hang Recreation Ground will also extend their service period to January 15 (Friday). The Government has taken into account the testing service needs of individual buildings covered under compulsory testing notices and the existing testing services near the buildings in the course of setting up mobile specimen collection stations.
 
     The Government will decide whether it is necessary to increase the number of stations, adjust or extend the operation periods of the stations after reviewing their usage and the public’s demand for the testing service.
    
     Apart from mobile specimen collection stations, persons subject to compulsory testing can also choose to attend any of the community testing centres in all districts to receive testing free of charge. The operating hours of the centres are from 8am to 1.30pm and from 2.30pm to 8pm daily. The centres provide booking as well as on-site registration services. Members of the public are only required to input simple personal information and select the testing centre and time slot in the 24-hour appointment booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk). The centres accord priority to those who make bookings in advance.

     A Government spokesman said, “The testing service providers will provide specimen collection services by combined nasal and throat swabs at the mobile specimen collection stations and community testing centres for testing free of charge. Generally speaking, mobile specimen collection stations only provide testing services for local residents and workers who are subject to compulsory testing.”
 
     People whose test results are negative will be informed by SMS notifications through their mobile phones. Persons subject to compulsory testing must properly keep the relevant records. If any specimen tested shows a preliminarily positive result, the specimen will be referred to the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the Department of Health (DH) for a confirmatory test. Confirmed cases will be followed up and announced by the Centre for Health Protection of the DH.
 
     The Government reminds the public that they can undergo COVID-19 testing for free through various means. For details on other free-of-charge testing means other than mobile specimen collection stations and community testing centres, please refer to the following webpage: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html. If a person has symptoms, he or she should seek medical attention immediately and should not attend the mobile specimen collection stations or community testing centres.
 
     The spokesman urged all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with exposure to infection risk (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or contacted confirmed cases), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons. read more

East Asia