A 52-year-old woman was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for 14 days by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (August 10) for violating the Prevention and Control of Disease (Disclosure of Information) Regulation (Cap. 599D).

     The woman was a patient of COVID-19, as confirmed earlier by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH). During the CHP's epidemiological investigation on the confirmed case, the woman provided false information to an authorised officer on January 17, 2021. She was charged with contravening sections 3(4) and 3(5) of the Regulation and was sentenced by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today to immediate imprisonment for 14 days.

     Under the Regulation, it is a criminal offence for any person to provide false or misleading information to authorised officers. Offenders face a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for six months. 

     ýÿA spokesman for the DH said that it is a grossly irresponsible act to conceal or provide false or misleading information to an authorised officer, as this may hinder the contact tracing process and pose a serious threat to public health. As of today, a total of five persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching the Regulation. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations.

Ends/Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Issued at HKT 18:30

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