Exemption arrangement under Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C)
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     The Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) (the Regulation), made under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Public Health Emergency) Regulation, was effective 0.00am of February 8.
 
     Further to the eight categories of persons previously announced, in accordance with section 4(1) of the Regulation, the Chief Secretary for Administration today (February 14) exempted the following categories of persons from the quarantine requirement with effect from 0:00am tomorrow (February 15).  

1. personnel of organisations commissioned by the Director of Social Welfare providing welfare support for Hong Kong residents living in the Mainland;
 
2. construction personnel tasked to carry out off-site duties in the Mainland that are essential and cannot be replaced by other means to ensure the quality, integrity and statutory compliance of services or components to be used in government projects, public housing projects and Airport Authority projects in Hong Kong;
 
3. experts or personnel of the academic sectors who are engaged in research and provide advice in combating the novel coronavirus infection;
 
4. staff of Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse and livestock importers residing in the Mainland;
 
5. staff and personnel of public bodies and their partners for the supply of wristbands and related materials for home quarantine; and
 
6. personnel of public bodies and their partners, agencies, companies or organisations for the supply to Hong Kong of personal protective equipment (PPE) or materials/equipment for the production of PPEs.

     The Department of Health (DH) will arrange medical surveillance for persons under the above exempted categories of persons during their stay in Hong Kong. Persons under medical surveillance are required to wear masks and check temperature daily for reporting to the DH. In addition, exempted persons are also subject to the temperature check and health declaration procedures carried out by the DH at various boundary control points during arrival and departure clearance.
 
     The Regulation was published in the Gazette on February 7 to tackle the spread of the novel coronavirus infection with resolute and stringent measures. With the exception of exempted persons, all persons having stayed in the Mainland for any period during the 14 days preceding arrival, regardless of nationality and travel documents used, will be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days. It is a criminal offence to contravene the quarantine order and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and six months' imprisonment.
 
     In accordance with section 4(1) of the Regulation, the Chief Secretary for Administration may exempt any person or categories of people from the quarantine requirement if the Chief Secretary is satisfied that the person's or persons' entry into Hong Kong are–  
 
  • supplying goods or services required for the normal operation of Hong Kong or the daily needs of the people in Hong Kong;
  • for governmental operation;
  • for the protection of the safety or health of the people of Hong Kong or the handling of public health emergency; or
  • cases of exceptional circumstance that serves the public interest of Hong Kong.

Ends/Friday, February 14, 2020
Issued at HKT 20:20

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