Five persons were sentenced by the Magistrates' Courts today (February 15) for violating the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A) or the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C).

     The first three cases involved two women aged 57 and 30 respectively and a man aged 25, who were earlier issued with compulsory quarantine orders. Before the expiry of the quarantine orders, they left the place of quarantine on June 20, June 21 and July 8 last year respectively. The 57-year-old woman was charged with contravening sections 22(1), (4) and (6) of Cap. 599A and was fined $4,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today. The 30-year-old woman was charged with contravening sections 32(1) and (3) of Cap. 599A and was fined $5,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today. The 25-year-old man was charged with contravening sections 22(4) and (6) of Cap. 599A and was fined $8,000 by the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today.
      
     The fourth case involved a 53-year-old woman, who was earlier issued with a compulsory quarantine order. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, she left the place of quarantine on July 7 last year, without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer. She was charged with contravening sections 8(1) and (5) of Cap. 599C and was fined $5,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today.
      
     The fifth case involved a 56-year-old woman, who was earlier issued with a compulsory quarantine order. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, she failed to comply with the term as specified in the quarantine order and attempted to leave Hong Kong on July 7, 2020, without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer, and was stopped by an immigration officer at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. She was charged with contravening sections 8(4) and (5) of Cap. 599C and was sentenced to imprisonment for seven days, suspended for 12 months by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today.

     ​A spokesman for the Department of Health said that co-operation of and support by members of the public play a critical role in anti-epidemic work. They must strictly observe relevant requirements in order to fight the pandemic and minimise the risk of transmission in the community. The spokesman reiterated that resolute action will be taken against anyone who breaches the relevant regulations.

Ends/Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Issued at HKT 18:38

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