Higher anti-epidemic fines deemed unfair to low-income earners

Infectious diseases specialist, Dr Leung Chi-chiu says bigger fines for breaking anti-epidemic rules would be unfair to low-income groups.

Instead, he said, law enforcement should be strengthened to deter people from breaching the gathering rules.

He said that even HK$2,000 could not be considered “a small amount for segments of our society with low income,'' in particular the foreign domestic helpers.

Leung said increasing the fine to an amount the poor will not be able to pay, would raise questions about fairness. That would amount to them being “selectivey prosecuted,'' he told an RTHK radio program.