Two offenders sentenced for breaching compulsory quarantine order

     Two persons were sentenced to immediate imprisonment for up to four weeks by the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Court today (May 18) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) (the Regulation).

     The two cases involve a man aged 68 and a woman aged 48 respectively. They were issued compulsory quarantine orders stating that they must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine orders, they left the place of quarantine without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorized officer and were stopped by staff of the Immigration Department at border control points. They were charged with contravening sections 8(1) and 8(5) of the Regulation and were sentenced today to immediate imprisonment for four weeks and 10 days respectively.

     A spokesman for the Department of Health said the sentence sends a clear message to the community that breaching quarantine orders is a criminal offence and that the Government will not tolerate such actions. The spokesman reiterated that compliance with quarantine orders is of paramount importance in Hong Kong's fight against COVID-19.

     Pursuant to the Regulation, save for exempted persons, all persons who have stayed in the Mainland, Macau or Taiwan in the 14 days preceding arrival at Hong Kong, regardless of their nationality or travel documents, will be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Moreover, pursuant to the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E), starting from 19 March, all persons arriving from countries or territories outside China would also be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days.  Breaching quarantine orders is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.  The Department of Health solemnly reminds persons under quarantine to comply with the statutory requirements and conduct quarantine for 14 days.