Immigration Department Offers Extended Services for Tai Po Fire Affected Residents from December 1-6

Arrangements for replacement of personal documents for residents affected by Tai Po fire

​The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced on November 30 that the ImmD will start to implement special arrangement for provision of special service sessions during non-office hours at the Immigration Headquarters at Tseung Kwan O with effect from today (December 1) to December 6 for replacement of personal documents for residents affected by the Tai Po fire. The ImmD will keep in view the situation and adjust the services arrangement based on the actual needs. Should there be any updates on the arrangement, announcement will be made as soon as possible.

Photo by Bastille Post

At present, without the need of making an appointment, residents affected by the Tai Po fire can attend any Immigration Office for application of relevant personal documents. For the service scope, addresses and office hours of the offices, please refer to Annex I.

Under the special arrangement, the ImmD will arrange special service sessions during non-office hours for residents affected by the Tai Po fire for replacement of personal documents at the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O. Special services sessions are from 6pm to 10pm during the period from December 1 (Monday) to December 5 (Friday), and from 1pm to 10pm on December 6 (Saturday). The services include processing applications for replacement of Hong Kong identity cards, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) travel documents (such as HKSAR passports, Documents of Identity for Visa Purposes, and Re-entry Permits), Hong Kong birth certificates and certified copy of marriage certificates. Also, the services cover application for extension of stay and requests for records in relation to current condition(s) and limit of stay.

The ImmD will also deploy officers to the two temporary shelters still in operation (Tung Cheong Street Community Hall and Tai Po Community Centre) and arrange designated transport service to convey affected residents to the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O for processing relevant applications. For details of the designated transport service, please refer to Annex II.

The ImmD will specifically accelerate the processing of the applications and aim to prepare the relevant personal documents within two days to facilitate collection by the affected residents at earliest. The applications for replacement of personal documents and extension applications received from the affected residents are free of charge.

In relation to travel documents such as Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Home Return Permit) as issued by the Mainland authorities, ImmD has liaised with the China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited. The China Travel Service Document Services HK Limited Tseung Kwan O Centre will open in parallel with the special service sessions for the affected residents to apply for the applications of Home Return Permit and other travel documents issued by the Mainland authorities.

For enquiries, please contact the ImmD by email (enquiry@immd.gov.hk) or by the enquiry hotline (2824 6111).

The Immigration Department, Photo source: reference image

Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorms

As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

The Labour Department (LD), Photo source: reference image

A spokesman for the LD said today (April 4) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (such as electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by a rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent an electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm that it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.

Photo source: reference image