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Seven departments under the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) are committed to maintaining quality services after the implementation of the five-day week on July 1.
A spokesman for the FSTB said today (June 21) the departments had already put in place various complementary measures to ensure that public services would not be compromised after the implementation of the five-day week.
"By extending the working hours on weekdays and enhancing alternative means of services such as the internet, telephone hotlines and drop-in boxes, convenience to the public will not be affected," the spokesman said.
The seven departments include the Companies Registry; the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD); the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI); Official Receiver's Office (ORO); the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD); the Government Logistics Department (GLD) and the Treasury.
The Companies Registry will implement the five-day week in phases. During the first phase, public services, including the receipt of documents and registration fees; incorporation and registration of local and overseas companies; registration of documents and company search, will remain unchanged.
As for the C&SD, office hours on Monday to Friday will be from 8.45am to 6pm. Members of the public who wish to make enquiries about statistical data and import/export declarations; purchase statistical products; and retrieve trade statistics outside office hours can make use of alternative means. These include the interactive telephone voice response system, internet service, telephone enquiry, email enquiry and fax enquiry. A drop-in box will also be provided at C&SD's Headquarters at Wanchai Tower for collection of cheques, mail and other documents.
The hours of the OCI will be from 8.45am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and the registers search counter service will be available from 9am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm. Clients requiring counter service for searching/photocopying of the insurers' register can obtain basic information from the OCI's website at http://www.oci.gov.hk.
The operating hours of the ORO for various services will be extended on weekdays. Its counter service (including public enquiries service) will be from 8.30am to 5.45pm; its shroff will open from 9am to 4.30pm; its hotline service is available from 8.30am to 5.45pm and its attestation service will be from 9.30am to 5pm. The public can also use the online search service at the ESDlife website (www.esdlife.com) for records of bankruptcy/compulsory winding-up cases; use the drop-in box placed at the High Block of Queensway Government Offices for submitting documents; call the enquiry hotline, 2867 2448, for recorded information or visit its website at www.oro.gov.hk for information relating to bankruptcy/compulsory winding-up. They can also send enquiries by email to oroadmin@oro.gov.hk or by fax to 3105 1814.
The RVD will operate from 8.15am to 6pm Monday to Friday. Payment of rates and Government rent can continue to be made by autopay, bank automated teller machine (ATM), PPS, internet, at Post Offices, or by posting to the Treasury. A drop-in box together with some commonly used forms, such as Notification of Change in Rates and/or Government Rent Payer's Particulars and Notice of New Letting or Renewal Agreement, will be placed on the ground floor of the Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices.
The new operating hours of the GLD's general offices will be 8.30am to 5.45pm Monday to Friday. Its Collection Office for collection of fees for placing notices in the Gazette will be open from 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday. The public can send in cheque payment/documents by post or by using the drop-in box placed at the North Point Government Offices.
The Pensions Enquiry Office of the Treasury will be open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and other offices will open from 8.45am to 5.45pm. The new arrangement will not affect Treasury's services, as the existing means to pay government bills including autopay, PPS, ATM, e-Pay station/internet banking service, payment by post, and at post office counters will remain available. Pensioners may continue to make enquiries or requests by calling 2829 5113, 2829 5114, 2845 8866; by fax (2519 3222); by email to pension@try.gov.hk; and by post to Room 107, 1/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai.
The public can visit the departments' websites for more information.
"We will review the operation of the five-day week regularly and improvements will be made where necessary," the spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:01
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