Man sentenced for breaching compulsory quarantine order

     A 25-year-old man was sentenced to 50 hours' community service by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (November 25) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap 599C).

     The man was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that he must conduct quarantine at a hotel for 14 days. The man was later found to have given a false address for use as the place of quarantine to an authorised officer at Hong Kong International Airport on April 30, 2021. He was charged with contravening section 9 of the Regulation and was sentenced by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today to 50 hours' community service.

     Breaching a compulsory 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 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 203 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching 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 action will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations.