SCS and SFST visit Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices (with photos)

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, today (January 28) visited Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices (CSWGO) to learn about the operation of a temporary testing station set up for staff working at the building and the resumption of more public services by government departments.
 
     Currently 15 government departments have set up offices at CSWGO, providing various public services such as health, district affairs enquiry, registration of persons and death and vehicle licensing services. As two government staff members working at the building have earlier tested positive for COVID-19, the Government Property Agency has set up a temporary testing station at the building from today to February 2 (except Saturday and Sunday) to provide a free virus testing service for staff members who work there.
       
     Mr Nip and Mr Hui inspected the station's first day of operation, including the workflow of the testing service and the infection control and social distancing measures put in place there. They also underwent virus testing on-site.
 
     Mr Nip and Mr Hui said they believed that early testing can safeguard the safety and health of the staff working at CSWGO, and help clear any doubts of members of the public visiting the premises for various public services. They appealed to all colleagues working at the building to take part in the free testing service for the health of themselves and that of their families and co-workers.
 
     Taking into account the needs for the functioning of society and the economy, government departments from today resumed the provision of some basic public services, in addition to emergency services and essential public services. Mr Nip and Mr Hui said they were pleased to learn that the resumption of the provision of more public services by bureaux and departments on the first day was generally smooth.
 
     In order to reduce the flows of people and social contact, bureaux and departments have adopted flexible measures to reduce the number of staff working in an office at any one time as far as possible, or stagger work and lunch hours to the widest possible extent. The opening hours of some offices may hence be adjusted and longer waiting and processing times for public services may be needed. The public are encouraged to use alternative means, such as post, drop-in boxes or online channels, to receive the services they need.