Banks, Post Office and government departments continue lock-down for at least another week – updated – closures till 16 February

All hearings of the courts/tribunals originally scheduled from 3 February to 9 February  will be adjourned to a date to be fixed.

Despite the general adjournment, the courts will handle urgent and essential hearings/matters during this period. These include fresh remand cases, urgent and essential bail-related reviews and other urgent applications to the courts. They will be handled in accordance with the established mechanisms, including the Duty Judge system.

Court/tribunal registries and offices will continue to be closed until 9 February, except for providing support for the handling of the above urgent and essential court hearings/matters.

LCSD

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced that the following cultural and leisure facilities will continue to be temporarily closed until February 17 (Monday). Recreational, sports and cultural programmes held at these venues during the same period will also be cancelled.

Land sports facilities and aquatic facilities temporarily closed include all sports centres, sports grounds, grass pitches, artificial turf soccer pitches, tennis courts, squash courts, bowling greens, golf facilities, public swimming pools, beaches, Tuen Mun Recreation and Sports Centre, water sports centres and holiday camps. Cultural facilities include all museums, performance venues, public libraries and their study rooms, mobile libraries, and music centres of the Music Office.

During the temporary closure period, URBTIX will maintain internet and mobile app ticketing and hotline services. Public libraries will continue to provide online services such as e-Books and e-Databases. Non-fee charging land-based leisure facilities including parks, playgrounds, outdoor hard-surface pitches, skateboard grounds, skateparks, roller skating rinks and cycling grounds will maintain services.

Labour Department

The Labour Department (LD) announced that the LD will provide limited public services between 3 February and 8 February. Except those provided by the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA), other counter services will remain suspended.

The EAA will provide limited counter services during office hours (from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 6:15 pm) from Monday to Friday for receiving applications for licence for employment agencies.

Two Occupational Health Clinics and Occupational Medicine Units under the department will remain closed. For those who have made medical clearance appointment with Occupational Medicine Units, please reschedule your appointment through the internet or telephone voice booking system

FEHD

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said that during the implementation of special work arrangements for government departments, public services provided by the FEHD, including cleansing, environmental hygiene, pest control, slaughterhouses, public markets, hawker management, burial and cremation, as well as various licensing services will generally continue to  remain normal.

PlanD

The Planning Department (PlanD) announced that starting from next 3 February until 7 February its Planning Enquiry Counters on 17/F, North Point Government Offices (NPGO) and 14/F, Sha Tin Government Offices, will maintain provision of basic and limited services to the public, including counter and telephone enquiry services on general planning information, inspection of submitted planning applications and town plans under statutory exhibition, etc.

Meanwhile, the receipt and dispatch counter of the department (on 18/F, NGPO) will also maintain basic services during office hours.

City Gallery will continue to be temporarily closed until further notice.  All educational activities and docent services will be cancelled during the closure period

Town Planning Board

Members of the public can place their submissions made under the Town Planning Ordinance, into the drop-in box located at the Town Planning Board Secretariat’s reception counter at 15/F, North Point Government Offices during office hours (9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday) starting from next 3 February.  Other counter services will continue to be temporarily suspended until further notice.

Buildings Department

The Buildings Department announced they will provide basic and limited services between 3 February and 9 February, focusing on public reports on building safety and unauthorised building works in progress, statutory submissions for new developments received, registration of building professionals and contractors, advisory service to licensing authorities and implementation of Operation Building Bright 2.0.

The Building Information Centre and all receipt counters, dispatch counters, general enquiry counters, and meeting rooms (except meetings essential to meet statutory requirements such as Minor Works Contractor Registration Committee meetings) of the BD will not be opened to the public until further notice. All appointments, meetings and inspections scheduled for the period will be rescheduled to a later date and individuals concerned will be notified in due course.

Water Supplies Department

The Water Supplies Department (WSD) announced that it will provide emergency and essential as well as basic and limited public services to members of the public. The arrangements for affected public services of the WSD commencing on 3 February are as follows:

• The Customer Enquiries Centre (CEC) in Wan Chai will be open as normal. However, the CECs in Tai Kok Tsui, Sha Tin, Tai Po and Tuen Mun will remain closed;
• The Document Management Centre located on the 43rd floor of the Immigration Tower, Wan Chai, will resume receiving submission of documents, including water supply applications, plumbing proposals, etc. Processing of these submissions will be prioritised according to their category, urgency, etc.;
• The 24-hour Customer Services Hotline (2824 5000) will handle emergency and general enquiries as normal. Enquiries on account matters will be diverted to voice mail and those of urgent nature will be replied to as soon as possible;
• The H2OPE Centre (Water Resources Public Education Centre) will remain closed;
• The “Excursion with Water Save Dave” Visiting Programme for individuals and groups will continue to be cancelled; and
• Routine meter readings will be suspended temporarily. The WSD will issue water bills with estimated water consumption to relevant consumers with the billing cycles of their accounts ending during the period.

Transport Department

The Transport Department (TD) announced the provision of limited services to members of the public from 3 February until further notice. Details are as follows:

• Licensing Offices at Admiralty, Cheung Sha Wan, Kwun Tong and Sha Tin, and Driving Test Appointment Office at Cheung Sha Wan will open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm from Monday to Friday for the provision of counter services (except for the direct issue of a full Hong Kong driving licence). Applicants who have made an appointment for a renewal of a full driving licence/vehicle licence or an application for an international driving permit can visit the licensing office concerned on the scheduled appointment day during the opening hours of the licensing office.
• Public Vehicles Unit at Admiralty will open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm from Monday to Friday for the provision of counter services.
• Cross Boundary Unit at Sheung Wan will open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm from Monday to Friday for the provision of counter services.
• TD’s Vehicle Examination Centres will resume normal services.

EPD

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) announced that members of the public can place their applications for vehicle exhaust and noise emissions compliance/exemption with relevant documents into the drop-in box located at the EPD’s office at 34/F, Revenue Tower, Wan Chai during office hours (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) starting from next 3 February. The applicants will be informed of the collection arrangement of the approved letters.

Department of Health

The Department of Health (DH) announced further adjustments of its services following its earlier announcement on service adjustment in response to the latest developments of the novel coronavirus infection.

• The services of three Woman Health Centres under the Family Health Service of the DH will be suspended starting from 3 February. The staff of the centres will make separate arrangements for users with prior appointments.
• AIDS Hotline 2780 2211 and Gay Men HIV Testing Hotline 2117 1069 of the DH’s AIDS Counselling and Testing Service will continue to provide telephone counselling services. However, both telephone and online bookings for HIV testing have been suspended until further notice. Those who have already made an appointment for HIV testing by phone or online will not be affected. For enquiries, please contact the above hotlines.

Home Affairs Department

The Home Affairs Department (HAD) announced that starting from 3 February, basic and limited public services of the HAD will resume until further notice. Details are as follows:

• The Home Affairs Enquiry Centres (HAECs) (except for the Sham Shui Po HAEC, which closed earlier for maintenance works) will be open between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm from Monday to Friday (between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday only for the HAEC in Mui Wo).  The service to administer declarations or oaths/affirmations for private use will be available.
• The Estate Beneficiaries Support Unit (EBSU) will provide limited services. The Unit’s hotline (2835 1535) and service counter will operate from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm from Monday to Friday.
• The waiting time for the services provided by the HAEC and the EBSU may be longer as the provision of services will be scaled down.
• The Office of the Licensing Authority will provide limited services. Submissions of licensing applications in connection with hotels, guesthouses and other premises as well as entertainment can be made by post or using e-submission. Application forms and submission details can be found on the webpage of the Office of the Licensing Authority at www.hadla.gov.hk. Applicants who need to collect or submit important documents in person should contact relevant staff beforehand for arrangements.
• All community halls and community centres, except when being used as temporary cold shelters when the cold weather warning is in force, will be temporarily closed.

AFCD

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced that starting from next 3February licensing services counters at Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices and the Marine Parks Office at CDW Building, 388 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan will provide basic and limited public services to members of the public. Relevant services will be provided on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 9:30am to noon and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, until further notice.

Meanwhile, AFCD public facilities including the Hong Kong Wetland Park, eight Country Park Visitor/Education Centres, seven Hong Kong Geopark Park Visitor Centres and the Endangered Species Resources Centre will remain temporarily closed

Banks

Most of the major banks have announced suspension of all counter services at around 30% of their branches.

HSBC

HSBC Convention Plaza Premier Centre, Leighton Road Premier Centre, Exchange Square Branch & Premier Centre, Shau Ki Wan Branch, Westlands Gardens Branch, Lyndhurst Terrace Branch, Sheung Wan Branch & Premier Centre, University of Hong Kong Branch, Aberdeen Premier Centre, 238 Nathan Road Branch & Premier Centre, Elements Premier Centre and International Banking Centre, Kowloon Bay Branch & Premier Centre, East Point City Branch & Premier Centre, Pioneer Centre Branch, Yau Ma Tei Premier Centre, Sheung Shui Branch, Jade Plaza Branch, Shatin Branch, Ocean Walk Branch and Citywalk Branch & Premier Centre are closed from 3 February 2020 onwards until further notice.

Further information athttps://www.hsbc.com.hk/legal/important-notices/

Bank of China

50 branches will close from 1 February. A full list is available here: https://www.bochk.com/dam/bochk/desktop/top/aboutus/notice/20200131_BOCHK_Notice_EN.pdf