Two men sentenced for breaching compulsory quarantine order
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Two men were sentenced by the magistrates’ courts today (July 15) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C).
The first case involved a man aged 38, who was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that he must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order and without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer, he was stopped by an immigration officer at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point on July 13, 2020. He was charged with contravening sections 8(4) and 8(5) of the Regulation and was fined $5,000 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts today.
The second case involved a man aged 29, who was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that he must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, he left the place of quarantine on November 21, 2020, without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer. He was charged with contravening sections 8(1) and 8(5) of the Regulation and was fined $5,000 by the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today.
Breaching a 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 sentences send a clear message to the community that breaching a compulsory 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 158 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching compulsory quarantine orders and have received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to 14 weeks or a fine of up to $15,000. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations.