Mobile Libraries 2 and 7 will suspend services during designated periods in September and October for routine maintenance, a Leisure and Cultural Services Department spokesman announced today (September 19).
 
     Mobile Library 7 will suspend services from September 26 to October 10. The affected service points are Fung Tak Estate and Chuk Yuen (South) Estate in Wong Tai Sin, Hoi Fu Court in Mong Kok West, Sceneway Garden in Lam Tin and Kai Yip Estate in Kowloon Bay. For enquiries about Mobile Library 7 services, please call 2926 3056.
 
     Mobile Library 2 will suspend services from October 8 to 13. The affected service points are Hau Tak Estate and Po Lam Estate in Tseung Kwan O, Mei Lam Estate and Saddle Ridge Garden in Sha Tin, Tsui Ping Estate in Kwun Tong and Maple Street in Sham Shui Po. For enquiries about Mobile Library 2 services, please call 2605 1071.
 
     Readers are welcome to use other public libraries during the service suspension periods. They may also renew library materials by telephoning 2698 0002 or 2827 2833, or via www.hkpl.gov.hk.

     The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in August showed a drop of 437 cases, representing a decrease of 0.2 per cent compared with that of July, according to the latest CSSA caseload statistics released by the Social Welfare Department today (September 19).
      
     The total CSSA caseload at the end of August stood at 230 228 (see attached table), with a total of 332 018 recipients.
      
     Analysed by case nature, low-earnings cases registered a month-to-month decrease of 1.2 per cent to 3 907 cases. Both unemployment cases and single parent cases dropped by 0.7 per cent to 12 389 cases and 25 595 cases respectively. Old age cases slipped by 0.1 per cent to 143 651 cases.
      
     Both ill-health cases and permanent disability cases increased slightly by 0.1 per cent to 23 398 cases and 17 013 cases respectively.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 is 104.4 (down 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     A spokesperson for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department today (September 19) announced that URBTIX outlets at all Tom Lee Music branches and at the HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity will have special opening hours for the Mid-Autumn Festival (September 24) and the following day (September 25).
 
     The URBTIX outlets at all Tom Lee Music branches will close at 5.30pm on September 24 and will resume normal opening hours the following day. The URBTIX outlet at HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity will close at 3pm on September 24 and remain closed the following day, and will resume normal opening hours on September 26.
 
     The opening hours of all other URBTIX outlets will remain normal for the Mid-Autumn Festival and the following day. Tickets can also be purchased via the website www.urbtix.hk and the mobile ticketing app (Android and iPhone versions) throughout the day, and through the credit card telephone booking hotline 2111 5999 from 10am to 8pm. The ticketing enquiries hotline 3761 6661 will operate as usual from 10am to 8pm.

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (September 19) that eligible Hong Kong operators are invited to apply for the quota for operating hire car services between Hong Kong and Macao using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) starting from 10am on September 24. The deadline for application is 5pm on October 15.
      
     The Hong Kong and Macao Governments will issue a quota of 100 for eligible operators in Hong Kong and Macao to operate Hong Kong/Macao cross-boundary hire car services. An operator allocated under the quota can operate hire car services for carriage of passengers for reward between Hong Kong and Macao via the HZMB. A quota of 60 will be issued by the Hong Kong Government. The Macao Government will also issue a quota of 40 for operators from Macao, and will announce the details separately.
      
     Applicants should have at least two years' experience in operating local or cross-boundary hire car services, or have possessed a permit for at least two years for operating cross-boundary services between Hong Kong and Guangdong Province. Applications should be submitted in the name of the hire car operators.
      
     The application form and details can be downloaded from the website of the TD (www.td.gov.hk) starting from 10am on September 24.