In order to reduce the flow of people and social contact to stop the further spread of the virus in the community, the Inland Revenue Department announced today (February 3) that from February 4, the department will only provide the following essential public services:
 

     (*For service users who have made online appointments for counter services before 9am on a day, please come to the Business Registration Office at 9am or 10am of the day; for those who have made online appointments for counter services after 4pm on a day, please come to the Business Registration Office at 2pm of the day.)
 
     The department appeals to members of the public for their understanding that the above services will only be provided at a much reduced scale and that services in all other areas will not be provided at the service counters. They should also be prepared to experience a longer waiting time before they can be served. The department encourages the public to use electronic services to handle tax affairs as much as possible. A list of such services can be found in the department's website at www.ird.gov.hk/eng/ese/index.htm.
 
     Since tax payments, lodgement of objections and holdover applications, and submission of tax returns and information can be made or performed without social contact, the relevant deadlines will not be extended. If members of the public experience difficulties in handling the relevant matters, they should contact the department by electronic means, by post or by fax (www.ird.gov.hk/eng/cu_enqs.htm).
 
     The department will review the situation and make further announcements as necessary.

     In light of the expansion of the special work arrangements for government employees announced by the Government, the Labour Department (LD) announced today (February 3) that it will only provide emergency and essential public services from tomorrow (February 4) tentatively until February 11. The Government will closely monitor the epidemic situation and review the arrangements in due course.

     Branch offices under the Labour Relations Division and the Employment Agencies Administration will provide limited counter services on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The enquiry hotline (3580 1442) on employment benefits dedicated for employees residing in Kwai Chung Estate will remain in service during office hours from Monday to Friday, while other counter services of the LD will be suspended. In view of public health considerations, members of the public should wear surgical masks at all times when they enter or are present in the LD's offices, and comply with the infection control and social distancing measures implemented by the department including using the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app, temperature checks and crowd control arrangements.

     Occupational Health Clinics and Occupational Medicine Units will be closed. Those who have made service appointments will be informed of the alternative arrangements.
           
     The LD encourages members of the public to make use of the department's online services and information (www.labour.gov.hk), and to file enquiries and requests for service by email at enquiry@labour.gov.hk. For information about employment rights and benefits, members of the public may browse the LD's website at www.labour.gov.hk/eng/faq/content.htm.
      
     Job seekers can use the Interactive Employment Service Website (www.jobs.gov.hk) for job searches. The LD's Telephone Employment Service Centre, all Job Centres and industry-based Recruitment Centres also provide enquiry and employment services by telephone from Monday to Friday during office hours (9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5.30pm) (telephone numbers are shown at www.jobs.gov.hk/0/en/information/ourservices/jobcentres/).
      
     Applicants for issue or renewal of licences of employment agencies may submit their applications to the office of the Employment Agencies Administration by post (Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon) or email (ea-ee@labour.gov.hk).
       
     Due to the special work arrangements, the processing time for various enquiries and applications may take longer than usual.

     The LD will review the situation in due course and make further announcements as appropriate.

     The Government announced today (February 3) that in order to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department in collaboration with the cross-disciplinary team of the University of Hong Kong had strengthened the sampling of sewage for virus testing in all districts, and had detected positive results in many areas, indicating that there may be hidden cases in the premises within these areas.

Compulsory testing
 
     In response to the positive sewage testing results in Ma Wan, the Government exercises the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) and publishes in the Gazette a compulsory testing notice, requiring any person who had been present at the following specified premises (see Annex) during the specified period to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test –
 

• Sewage Testing Area Islands Site 4A (Area around Park Island and Pak Lam Road Garden in Ma Wan)

    
     The Government strongly reminds members of the public to strictly follow the compulsory testing requirements and undergo testing on time as required. The above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well. They are advised to closely monitor their health conditions. They should seek medical attention and undergo testing even if they have only mild symptoms.
 
     Details of the compulsory testing notice are available on the website of the Centre for Health Protection, the Department of Health, via www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/105294.html.

Rapid test

     As regards positive sewage testing results in Ma Wan and Discovery Bay, the Home Affairs Department (including Tsuen Wan and Islands District Offices) will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to residents and all cleansing workers and property management staff working in the following areas for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identifying infected persons –
 

• Sewage Testing Area Islands Site 4A (Area around Park Island and Pak Lam Road Garden in Ma Wan) (see Annex)
• Discovery Bay in Lantau Island

     The Government appeals to residents and those working in these areas who have been exposed to infection risks to undergo testing on a voluntary basis to achieve "early identification, early isolation and early treatment". Residents may refer to (www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjLzD3-gab4) for enquiries relating to the use of the rapid test kits.

     If positive test result is shown on the test kit, medical attention should be sought at the Accident and Emergency Departments promptly to receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment at the earliest possible time. Residents tested positive should stay home as far as possible to avoid spreading the virus in the community. The Government stresses that rapid test kit testing is not a substitute for the compulsory testing requirement. Individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, who have visited places with epidemic outbreaks or have had contact with persons tested positive, etc, should undergo testing promptly at testing centres.

     With effect from tomorrow (February 4) until further notice, the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) will only maintain essential public service including delivery of anti-epidemic service, operation of methadone clinics and provision of non-emergency ambulance service. The first aid service for all cycle tracks and country parks on weekends and public holidays will be suspended. In case where emergency assistance is required, please dial 999.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) announced today (February 3) that starting from tomorrow (February 4) until February 11, the following expansion of special work arrangements will be implemented to provide emergency and essential services for the public:
 
• All Estate Management Offices (EMOs) of public housing estates will be open from 10am to 1pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to provide limited management services for public housing estates and handle cases with prior appointments. For enquiries and assistance outside the opening hours, residents may call the contact telephone numbers provided by the respective EMOs, and staff will render assistance as much as practicable. The EMOs' shroff offices will be closed. Tenants can pay rent at more than 1 000 locations, such as designated convenience stores and supermarkets. They may also make payments via the Payment by Phone Service. For details, please browse the following website: www.housingauthority.gov.hk/en/public-housing/rent-related-matters/rent-payment-methods/index.html;
 
• The following subsidised housing offices will be open from 10am to 1pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to provide limited services:
 
(1) The White Form Secondary Market Scheme Unit at the HA Customer Service Centre (HACSC) in Lok Fu; and
(2) The Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Secondary Market Scheme Unit at Lung Cheung Office Block in Wong Tai Sin;
 
• The Home Assistance Loan Unit (HALU) at Lung Cheung Office Block in Wong Tai Sin will provide drop-in boxes to receive submissions in relation to matters under the Home Assistance Loan Scheme and the Home Purchase Loan Scheme. Applicants can place their submissions in the drop-in box located at the HALU from 10am to 1pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The HALU will issue receipts/acknowledgements of the submissions and take follow-up action in due course;
 
• The HOS Sales Unit at the HACSC in Lok Fu, the Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme Sales Unit at Pioneer Place in Kwun Tong and other offices of related services will only be open to applicants/members of the public with prior appointments. For enquiries, please contact the HA Sales Hotline on 2712 8000 or the telephone numbers of the office of the service concerned;
 
• The Public Rental Housing (PRH) Application Office at the HACSC in Lok Fu will be open from 8am to 1pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to provide services in relation to matters involving PRH applications. Detailed vetting interviews with prior appointments will proceed as scheduled;
 
• The Clearance Housing office and Redevelopment Sub-section offices (Pak Tin and Shek Lei Interim Housing) will be open from 10am to 1pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to provide services in relation to matters involving clearance housing or redevelopment; and
 
• The Shroff Office on the ground floor of the HA Headquarters will be open from 2pm to 4.30pm from Monday to Friday. All payment collection services (including premium payments by Subsidised Sale Flats Scheme owners to enable them to complete transactions of their flats), with the exception of rental payment collection, will be in operation.
 
     In addition, due to the above work arrangements, the HA may not be able to reply to public enquiries, requests or complaints in a timely manner. For enquiries, please call the HA hotline on 2712 2712.