A 32-year-old man was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for four weeks by the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (April 20) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E) (the Regulation).

     The man was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that he must conduct quarantine at the place of quarantine (a specified hotel) for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, he left the place of quarantine without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer and was stopped by staff of the Immigration Department at a border control point. He was charged with contravening sections 8(1) and 8(5) of the Regulation and was sentenced today to immediate imprisonment for four weeks.

     A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) welcomed the judgement. 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, starting from March 19, save for exempted persons, all persons arriving from countries or territories outside China would be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Moreover, pursuant to the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C), 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 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 DH once again strongly reminded persons under quarantine to comply with the statutory requirements and conduct quarantine for 14 days.

Ends/Monday, April 20, 2020
Issued at HKT 17:41

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