Two persons were each fined $4,000 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (July 4) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C).

     The cases involved a 65-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman, who were each earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that they must conduct quarantine at home for seven days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, they both left the place of quarantine on November 4 and 5, 2021, without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer. They were each charged with two counts of contravening sections 8(1) and 8(5) of the Regulation and were each fined $4,000 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today.

     Breaching a compulsory quarantine order is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. A spokesman for the Department of Health said the sentence sends a clear message to the community that breaching a quarantine order is a criminal offence that the Government will not tolerate, and solemnly reminded the public to comply with the regulations. As of today, a total of 253 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching quarantine orders and have received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to 14 weeks or a fine of up to $15,000. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations.

Ends/Monday, July 4, 2022
Issued at HKT 19:38

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