The Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (the Regulation) made under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Public Health Emergency) Regulation will take effect from 0.00am tomorrow (February 8) and the Chief Secretary for Administration may exempt any person or category of persons from the 14-day compulsory quarantine requirement as prescribed under the Regulation. 

     In accordance with section 4(1) of the Regulation, the Chief Secretary for Administration has exempted the following categories of persons from the compulsory quarantine requirement with effect from the commencement of the Regulation:

1. cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers and necessary accompanying personnel;

2. cross-boundary coach and shuttle drivers and necessary crew members;

3. air crew disembarking from planes at Hong Kong International Airport and entering Hong Kong;

4. crew members of aircrafts of air freight operators who need to commute to and from the Mainland for performance of necessary duties related to freight forwarding;

5. government officials carrying out governmental duties;

6. government agents and contractors supporting the operation of cross-boundary functions;

7. crew members of goods vessels; and

8. crew members of fishing vessels and fish collectors (including mainland fishermen deckhands).

     The Department of Health (DH) will arrange medical surveillance for persons under the above exempted categories of persons during their stay in Hong Kong. Persons under medical surveillance are required to wear masks and check temperature daily for reporting to the DH. In addition, exempted persons are also subject to the temperature check and health declaration procedures carried out by the DH at various boundary control points during arrival and departure clearance.

     The Regulation was published in the Gazette today (February 7) to tackle the spread of the novel coronavirus infection with resolute and stringent measures. With the exception of exempted persons, all persons having stayed in the Mainland for any period during the 14 days preceding arrival, regardless of nationality and travel documents used, will be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days. It is a criminal offence to contravene the quarantine order and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and six months' imprisonment. 

     A government spokesman said that putting in place the Regulation could further reduce the flow of people between Hong Kong and the Mainland, minimising the risks for a spread of disease in Hong Kong. He stressed that there is no cause for public worries as the Regulation will not affect the freight between Hong Kong and the Mainland.

Ends/Friday, February 7, 2020
Issued at HKT 21:56

NNNN