Man sentenced for breaching compulsory quarantine order

     A 44-year-old man was sentenced to imprisonment for seven days by the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (June 17) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) (the Regulation).
 
     The man was issued a compulsory quarantine order when he entered Hong Kong on June 2, 2021, stating that he must conduct quarantine at home for seven days as he had been fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, he was found during a surprise check on June 4, 2021, to have removed his wristband and left the place of quarantine, without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer. He was charged with two counts of contravening sections 8(1), 8(4) and 8(5) of the Regulation and was sentenced by the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today to imprisonment for seven days for each of the two charges, with the sentences to run concurrently.
 
     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 143 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.