Due to the extended special work arrangements for government departments, the Inland Revenue Department and the Legal Aid Department today announced the latest arrangements for their services.

From February 17, all services of the Inland Revenue Department will be suspended except the Business Registration Office, the Stamp Office and the Central Enquiry Counter, which will run from 9am to noon from Monday to Friday.

The above services will only be provided at a much-reduced scale and services in other areas will not be provided at service counters.

The department advised the public to use its electronic services to handle tax matters.

Deadlines for tax payments, lodgement of objections and holdover applications, and submission of tax returns and information that fall between January 29 and February 23 will also be extended to February 24.

Additionally, Legal Aid Department offices will open from 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm between February 17 and 21 to provide basic and limited civil and criminal legal aid application and litigation services.

The Immigration Department will provide basic and limited public services from February 17 to 23.

Immigration control points will maintain normal operations. The 1868 hotline will also continue to operate as normal to provide practicable assistance for Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, various cultural and leisure facilities under the Leisure & Cultural Services Department will continue to be temporarily closed and recreational, sports and cultural programmes will also be cancelled until March 2.

Non-fee charging land-based leisure facilities including parks, playgrounds, outdoor hard-surface pitches, skateboarding grounds, skateparks, roller skating rinks and cycling grounds will maintain services.

During the period, URBTIX will maintain Internet and mobile app ticketing and hotline services. Public libraries will continue to provide online services such as e-Books and e-Databases.

Booking applications for the department's non-fee charging land recreation and sports facilities are suspended until further notice.