The Government published in the Gazette today (March 24) the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong (Amendment) Regulation 2020 (the Amendment Regulation). The Amendment Regulation extends the compulsory 14-day quarantine arrangements to all persons arriving from or having stayed in Macao and Taiwan, in the past 14 days prior to arrival, in addition to those arriving from the Mainland.
Together with the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E) effected on March 19, 2020, the Amendment Regulation implies that all inbound travellers would be subject to a compulsory quarantine, unless exempted. This is a further measure to avoid the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hong Kong.
The Amendment Regulation will commence at 0.00am tomorrow (March 25) and will be effective for the same period as the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) (i.e. till midnight of May 7, 2020).
Other arrangements relating to the compulsory quarantine requirement under Cap. 599C, including the exemption of certain categories of people fulfilling specific criteria by the Chief Secretary for Administration and the penalties, remain unchanged. Contravening the quarantine requirement is a criminal offence. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.
The Amendment Regulation is made in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599). Section 8 of the Ordinance empowers the Chief Executive in Council to make public health emergency regulations for the purposes of preventing, combating or alleviating the effects of a public health emergency and protecting public health.
The Government published in the Gazette on February 7, 2020, the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) to subject all persons arriving from or having stayed in the Mainland for any period during the 14 days preceding their arrival in Hong Kong, regardless of nationality and travel documents used, to a compulsory quarantine for 14 days.
In view of the proliferation of the disease and the continuous increase in the number of cases reported around the world, the Centre for Health Protection strongly urges members of the public to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong.
The Department of Health (DH) will closely monitor the situation. Any updates will be issued through the media, the Government's "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html) and the DH's webpage (www.gov.hk/ncv). Any enquiries on health information on COVID-19 may be addressed to the DH's hotline at (852) 2125 1122 (operating daily from 8am to midnight).
Follow this news feed: East Asia