Two persons were each fined $9,000 and sentenced to imprisonment for two weeks, suspended for 12 months, by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (October 17) for violating the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A).
         
     The cases involved a 65-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman, who were each earlier issued two compulsory quarantine orders, with each quarantine order stating that they must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine orders, they left the place of quarantine on March 19, 2022. They were each charged with two counts of contravening sections 22(1), 29(1) and 29(3) of the Regulation and were sentenced by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today to imprisonment for two weeks, suspended for 12 months, and a fine of $9,000 for the two charges with the sentence to run concurrently.
      
     Breaching a compulsory quarantine order is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. A spokesman for the Department of Health said that the sentence sends a clear message to the community that breaching a quarantine order is a criminal offence that the Government will not tolerate, and solemnly reminded the public to comply with the regulations. As of today, a total of 263 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching quarantine orders and have received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to 14 weeks or a fine up to $15,000. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations.

Ends/Monday, October 17, 2022
Issued at HKT 19:25

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