Four persons were sentenced by Kowloon City magistrates' courts today (November 26) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) or the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E) respectively.     
 
     The first case involved a woman aged 26, who was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that she must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, she was found to have taken off her wristband during a surprise check on May 7 without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer. She was charged with contravening Sections 8(4) and 8(5) of the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) and was fined $10,000.
 
     The second case involved a man aged 61. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, he left the place of quarantine on March 30 without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer. He was charged with contravening Sections 8(1) and 8(5) of the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E) and was fined $10,000.
 
     The remaining two cases involved two men aged 80 and 46. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, they left the place of quarantine on March 27 and July 3 respectively without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer. They were charged with contravening Sections 8(1) and 8(5) of the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) and were fined $12,000 and sentenced to immediate imprisonment for seven days.  
 
     Pursuant to the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) starting from February 8, save for exempted persons, all persons who have stayed in the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan in the 14 days preceding arrival in Hong Kong, regardless of their nationality or travel documents, will be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Moreover, pursuant to the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E), starting from March 19, all persons arriving from countries or territories outside China would also be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Breaching a 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 compulsory quarantine order is a criminal offence that the Government will not tolerate, and solemnly reminded the public to comply with the Regulation. As of today, a total of 75 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching compulsory quarantine orders and have received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to three months or a fine of $15,000. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations.

Ends/Thursday, November 26, 2020
Issued at HKT 19:39

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