In view of the Government's announcement yesterday (August 20) to gradually resume the provision of basic public services in a safe and orderly manner to meet the needs of the public and enterprises, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (August 21) that it will implement targeted measures to reduce social contact and infection control measures for the provision of the following basic public services from next Monday (August 24) until August 30 in addition to the emergency and essential public services provided under the special work arrangements implemented in the past month:
 
(a) The Receipt and Dispatch Counter services at the office of the BD's New Buildings Divisions on 7/F, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong will be open from 9.30am to 3pm from Monday to Friday to replace the current drop-in counter services which operate three days a week for receiving statutory submissions and related documents and forms for new building works, and for the applicants to collect processed plans and related documents by appointment;
 
 (b) The Building Information Centre at 2/F of the BD Headquarters at North Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, will be reopened between 10am to 4pm from Monday to Friday for inspection and copying services for private building records. There will be limits on the number of customers to be served in order to reduce social contact; and
 
 (c) The Receipt Counter at the ground floor of the BD Headquarters will be reopened between 10am to 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for receipt of documents from members of the public. There will be limits on the number of customers to be served in order to reduce social contact. In addition, a drop-in box and a tender/quotation box will be provided at the ground floor of the BD Headquarters from 8.30am to 5.30pm from Monday to Friday to supplement the Receipt Counter services.
 
     Under the special work arrangement, the handling time of BD's services may be longer than usual. In addition, the department will issue receipts/acknowledgements of documents received via the drop-in boxes in due course.
         
     The General Enquiry Counter at the ground floor of the BD Headquarters and meeting rooms of the BD will not be open to the public until further notice. All appointments, meetings (except meetings essential to meet statutory requirements such as Minor Works Contractor Registration Committee meetings) and inspections scheduled for the period may be rescheduled to later dates, and the individuals concerned will be notified in due course.
      
     The BD appeals to the public to minimise visiting the department's offices in person unless they genuinely require its public services urgently. The public may call 1823 to make emergency reports. For general enquiries and other reports, they may call 1823 or inform the department by email (enquiry@bd.gov.hk), online reporting (eform.one.gov.hk/form/bd0001/en), fax (2537 4992) or post (BD Headquarters, North Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon). In addition, electronic information may be submitted to the BD via receipt@bd.gov.hk.

Ends/Friday, August 21, 2020
Issued at HKT 12:38

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