The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, visited Hong Kong Central Library and Hong Kong Park Sports Centre today (March 10) to learn more about the preparations made by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) to re-open some indoor leisure venues and cultural facilities tomorrow (March 11). He also inspected the counter services of the Transport Department (TD) Licensing Office and the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) to better understand the work of front-line colleagues amid the COVID-19 epidemic.

     Mr Law first visited Hong Kong Central Library, where he was briefed by the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu, about the department's measures to avoid people gathering at public libraries, which will be partially reopened tomorrow. These measures include arranging admission by sessions and distributing admission slips on a first-come, first-served basis for entry.

     Accompanied by Mr Liu, Mr Law also visited Hong Kong Park Sports Centre to learn more about the special measures adopted by the LCSD at the sport facilities, which will be reopened tomorrow, to avoid people gathering and to foster social distancing, such as limiting the number of users.

     Later at Revenue Tower, Mr Law was briefed by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Mr Wong Kuen-fai, on the IRD's resumption of normal public services after implementing infection controls and social distancing measures. Mr Law also inspected the counter service of the TD's Licensing Office in Admiralty. He learned from the Commissioner for Transport, Ms Mable Chan, that the Licensing Offices have further increased the quota for online appointments, and have opened more counters to process licensing applications with scheduled appointments, while providing follow-up services for applications submitted by drop-in box, by post or online.

     Mr Law praised government departments for striving to provide more needed services to the public in a safe and orderly manner by putting in place various infection control and social distancing measures. He also expressed gratitude to colleagues for their commitment and dedicated efforts during the epidemic.

Ends/Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Issued at HKT 18:13

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