Three men were sentenced to immediate imprisonment for up to three months by magistrates' courts today (March 30) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap 599C) (the Regulation).
      
     In the first case, a 31-year-old man gave a false residential address for use as place of quarantine to an authorised officer at a border control point. He was charged with contravening section 9 of the Regulation and was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for three months at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today.
      
     The second and third cases involve two men aged 37 and 41 respectively. They were issued compulsory quarantine orders stating that they must conduct their 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 authorised 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 at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today to immediate imprisonment for 10 days and six weeks respectively.
      
     The Government welcomed the judgments. The sentences send a clear message to the community that breaching quarantine orders is a criminal offence and that the Government will not tolerate such actions. The Government reiterates 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, Macao or Taiwan in the 14 days preceding arrival at Hong Kong, regardless of their nationality or travel documents, will be subject to a 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 March 19, all persons arriving from countries or territories outside China would also be subject to a compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Breaching quarantine orders is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum imprisonment for six months and fine of $25,000. The Department of Health solemnly reminds persons under quarantine to comply with the statutory requirements and conduct their quarantine for 14 days.

Ends/Monday, March 30, 2020
Issued at HKT 19:15

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