Four persons were sentenced by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (November 28) for violating the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A) (the Regulation).

     The first case involved a 60-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man who were each earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order. Before the expiry of the quarantine orders, they left the place of quarantine on March 29, 2022. They were each charged with one count of contravening sections 22(1), 29(1) and 29(3) of the Regulation. The woman was sentenced to imprisonment for 10 days, suspended for 12 months, and a fine of $3,000. The man was sentenced to 80 hours' community service and a fine of $3,300.

     The second and third cases involved a 62-year-old man and a 65-year-old man respectively, who were each earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order. Before the expiry of the quarantine orders, they left the place of quarantine on April 2, 2022, and April 9, 2022, respectively. They were each charged with contravening sections 22(1), (4) and (6) of the Regulation and were each fined $6,000.

     Breaching a compulsory quarantine order is a criminal offence. Under the Regulation, offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $10,000 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 regulation. The spokesman reiterated that resolute action will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulation.

Ends/Monday, November 28, 2022
Issued at HKT 19:45

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