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The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will implement the second phase of the five-day week from next month and close its licensing and shroff counters on Saturdays.
Starting January 1, 2007, the opening hours of the shroff counter and licensing counters for animal and plant import, export or trade permits/certificates will be extended on weekdays to compensate for closure on Saturdays. On weekdays, the licensing counters will open from 8.30am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 5.45pm, while the shroff counter will open from 8.30am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 5.15pm.
The Endangered Species Resource Centre will also be closed on Saturdays, with extended opening hours on weekdays.
A department spokesman said today (December 20) that other means of service provision would be made available, including accepting applications for licences by post or fax and the provision of drop-in boxes on the ground floor of the Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices on Saturdays.
"There will be no change to existing services in country parks, marine parks and the Hong Kong Wetland Park, where most people visit during weekends," he said.
Notices have been put up in relevant offices concerning the revised opening hours of the Licensing counters and other services with which the public have direct contact.
For details, people are welcome to visit the department's dedicated webpage on the five-day week at www.afcd.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/dn/5day.html or the Government's dedicated website at www.gov.hk/info/5day, or call the 24-hour Citizen's Easy Link at 1823.
As for operators in related trades, the department has kept them informed of the new service hours through direct mailing and emails.
Some frequently asked questions and answers concerning the department are available on the department website at www.afcd.gov.hk/eindex.html.
Ends/Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:00
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