Woman sentenced for breaching compulsory quarantine order
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The woman was issued a compulsory quarantine order when she entered Hong Kong on July 9, stating that she must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days. Investigations revealed that the woman did not enter the place of quarantine, and without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer, she tried to leave Hong Kong on the same day. She was stopped by staff of the Immigration Department at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. The woman was charged with contravening section 8(4) and 8(5) of the Regulation and was sentenced by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today to immediate imprisonment for 14 days.
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 in 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 March 19, all persons arriving from countries or territories outside China would also be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Breaching a quarantine order is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. The Department of Health (DH) solemnly reminds persons under quarantine to comply with the statutory requirements and conduct quarantine for 14 days.
A spokesman for the DH said the sentence sends a clear message to the community that breaching the Regulation is a criminal offence and that the Government will not tolerate such actions. As of today, a total of 35 persons have been convicted by the courts with imprisonment sentences of up to three months or a fine of $10,000. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the Regulation.
Ends/Friday, August 7, 2020
Issued at HKT 19:04
Issued at HKT 19:04
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