HKSAR gov't to resume normal public services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government departments will fully resume normal public services from Sept. 15 subject to the implementation of targeted measures to reduce social contact and the application of infection control measures, a HKSAR government spokesman announced on Thursday.

"The epidemic situation has stabilized this month. Taking into account the needs for the functioning of society, government departments will resume normal public services," the spokesman said.

"As individual bureaux and departments may require more time to carry out necessary manpower deployment and procure supplies and need to comply with the anti-epidemic regulations, some of their services may be resumed at a later time," the spokesman said.

To reduce the risk of infection, many of the public services and activities were suspended or reduced in scale in January. Public services resumed by phase as the epidemic situation eased around May, but suspended again in July due to the third wave of epidemic.

In face of the latest situation, the provision of basic public services gradually resumed from Aug. 24 to meet the needs of the public and enterprises.