The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, visited the Transport Department (TD) and the Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (April 28) to learn more about the preparations made by the departments for a resumption of public services.
      
     The Government has announced that the resumption of public services will start from May 4 under a phased approach. Among them, the TD will resume road tests on that day while planning to resume written tests on May 26. The SWD will also gradually resume the services of its Integrated Family Service Centres (IFSC).
      
     Mr Nip first visited the driving test centre of the TD in Ho Man Tin, where he was briefed by the Commissioner for Transport, Ms Mable Chan, on the arrangements for the resumption of road tests next Monday and the implementation of infection control measures at driving test centres, such as requiring candidates to wear surgical masks and undergo body temperature screenings at entrances. As for the written tests to be resumed later, Mr Nip was pleased to know that the TD will keep the seats apart at appropriate distances and step up cleansing of computers at test centres.
      
     Accompanied by the Assistant Director of Social Welfare, Ms Pang Kit Ling, Mr Nip also visited the Causeway Bay Integrated Family Service Centre where he was briefed on the plan to gradually resume services at IFSCs and on measures to reduce social contacts. Mr Nip also learned that various infection control measures to safeguard the health of colleagues as well as service users will be put in place. For example, group activities will be conducted for no more than four participants, and physical partitioning is erected in meeting rooms for counseling services.
      
     "Many people hope that the Government can provide more public services when the epidemic situation becomes stable. I am pleased to learn that the departments have made all the necessary preparations for providing the services needed by the public while striving to safeguard public health," he said.
      
     "Government departments will continue to maintain a high degree of vigilance and adopt all the necessary precautionary measures. The Government will also closely monitor the situation and determine when to embark on a full resumption of normal business. I hope that members of the public will continue to fight the virus together with the Government so that we can win the war. I would also like to express gratitude to our colleagues for their commitment and dedicated efforts to serve the public during the epidemic."

Ends/Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Issued at HKT 16:56

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