Members of the public can now apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP) through an online service launched today by the Transport Department. Users of “iAM Smart+” or eligible applicants holding a valid personal digital certificate may apply online via the GovHK website and receive their IDP by post, without the need to visit a licensing office in person. If the submitted documents and photograph are in order, the department will normally send successful applicants their IDP by registered post within 10 working days of the online application being made. The department reminded those who plan to drive outside of Hong Kong to allow sufficient time for the IDP applications to be processed. Citizens may continue to submit IDP applications by visiting licensing offices in person. Appointments can be booked online or by calling 3763 8080 to save queuing time. Drivers may also send in their IDP applications by post or via the drop-in boxes placed at licensi
(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)
Enterprises should require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 so that Hong Kong could build up a defence promptly to enable the Government to relax social distancing measures that will benefit businesses.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam made the statement ahead of today’s Executive Council meeting and stressed that raising the COVID-19 vaccination rate serves the interest of the business community.
“Encouraging, promoting or even urging enterprises and corporations to require their staff to (get) vaccinated (against COVID-19) is one of the strategies to raise the vaccination rate. I do not think we need to provide sort of tangible incentives for the private sector.
“It is to their own benefit to require their employees to be vaccinated so that Hong Kong could build up this defence as soon as possible to enable the Government to decide on more relaxations that they want to see - relaxations in the form of allowing more people or tourists to come in, relaxation in terms of the social distancing measures - so that they could do more business.
“So there is a common objective between the business world and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to increase the vaccination rate.
“But if they want a very strong and clear message from the Government, I am now giving that very strong signal and message that they should move into the situation of requiring their employees to be vaccinated.”
Mrs Lam added that for employees who are unable to or refuse to get vaccinated, they should at least be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test result on a regular basis.
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