Two men sentenced for breaching compulsory quarantine order

     Two men were sentenced by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (December 29) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C).
 
     The cases involved a 23-year-old man and a 24-year-old man, who were earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order respectively stating that they must conduct quarantine at home for seven days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, they left the place of quarantine on September 4, 2021, without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer. They were charged with contravening sections 8(1) and 8(5) of the Regulation and were sentenced by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today to imprisonment for 14 days, suspended for 24 months respectively. 
 
     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 211 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 actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations.