A 36-year-old woman was sentenced by the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (November 14) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) (the Regulation) and Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599) (the Ordinance).

     The woman was earlier issued with a compulsory quarantine order. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, she left the place of quarantine on July 16 and 17, 2021, respectively without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer. Moreover, she caused an obstruction to a police officer in the performance of a function on July 17, 2021. She was charged with two counts of contravening sections 8(1) and 8(5) of the Regulation and one count of contravening section 11 of the Ordinance. She was sentenced by the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today to imprisonment for the abovementioned charges for a total of two weeks, suspended for 12 months with the sentences to run concurrently for the charges.
 
     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 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. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations.

Ends/Monday, November 14, 2022
Issued at HKT 19:15

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