Latest amendments to Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation and Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation

     The Government gazetted today (June 22) the amendments to the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G). The amendments adjusted the scope of exempted group gatherings under Cap. 599G, and provide the legal framework to implement the relevant infection prevention and control measures on cruises when "cruise-to-nowhere" (CTN) itineraries are resumed. The relevant amendments will take effect at 0.00am on June 24.
 
     The Government announced yesterday the adjustments to the scope of exempted group gatherings under Cap. 599G. Details at here. The relevant legislative amendments have been approved by the Executive Council today.
 
     Furthermore, the Government announced on May 26 that CTN itineraries can resume from end July the soonest when cruise companies strictly comply with a set of health control protocols. Details at here. To this end, the Government amended Cap. 599F to incorporate "cruise ships" into the list of scheduled premises under Cap. 599F, in order to allow the Government to impose restrictions and requirements to the mode of operation of cruise ships (including the relevant infection control measures).
 
     A spokesman for the Government cautioned that, managers of scheduled premises that contravene the statutory requirements under Cap. 599F would have committed a criminal offence. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months. In addition, persons who are present at any premises of a catering business or any scheduled premises have to comply with directions applicable to them. Non-compliance with the relevant directions would be an offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $10,000. The liability may be discharged by paying a fixed penalty of $5,000. In particular, a staff member or a customer who makes false declarations or provides false information under the relevant measures would be regarded as non-compliance with the directions issued under Cap. 599F and would be subject to a fixed penalty of $5,000. Any contravention against group gathering requirements within a premises under Cap. 599F would be handled according to the requirements under Cap. 599G, which means that participants of the group gathering would be subject to a fixed penalty of $5,000.
 
     Any person who participates in a prohibited group gathering; organises a prohibited group gathering; owns, controls or operates the place of such a gathering; and knowingly allows the taking place of such a gathering commits an offence under Cap. 599G. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. Persons who participate in a prohibited group gathering may discharge liability for the offence by paying a fixed penalty of $5,000. A staff member or a customer who makes false declarations or provides false information under the relevant measures may be regarded as participating in a prohibited group gathering and subject to a fixed penalty of $5,000.