Man sentenced for breaching compulsory quarantine order

     A 16-year-old man was sentenced to immediate detention in rehabilitation centre by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (June 1) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) (the Regulation).

     The man was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that he must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days. The man was later found to have given a false residential address for use as the place of quarantine to an authorised officer at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point on October 20, 2020. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, he had also taken off his wristband without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer and was intercepted by police at Kwun Tong on October 22, 2020. He was charged with contravening sections 8(4), 8(5) and section 9 of the Regulation and was sentenced to immediate detention in rehabilitation centre by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today.

     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 regulations. As of today, a total of 141 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching compulsory 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.