Breakers of quarantine told they are courting criminal charges

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah yesterday warned that anyone who violated mandatory quarantine orders could face criminal charges.

The department of health is collecting evidence on cases of violations to be submitted to counterparts at the justice division for prosecution decisions.

Cheng wrote in her blog that those who are required to undergo quarantine should abide by the law.

"Our prosecutors would make such decisions based on available evidence, applicable laws, and the Prosecution Code. A prosecution would be started if there is sufficient admissible evidence for a reasonable prospect of conviction," she said.

The mandatory order, implemented on February 8 to curb the spread of Covid-19, requires all arrivals from the mainland, or any with a travel history to the mainland within the past 14 days, to undergo quarantine.

Anyone who violates the regulation could face a six-month jail sentence and a fine of up to HK$25,000.

As of Saturday, 7,858 people had been placed under a 14-day quarantine period, with 90 percent being Hong Kong residents who are required to stay in their homes.

Visitors and non-permanent residents must quarantine themselves in isolation centers or hotels.

Among those quarantined, two people who breached the order on February 8 were tracked down by the police. The two, both revealed to be elderly people, were found four days later.

Another three arrivals attempted to leave Hong Kong but were intercepted. The trio were placed in isolation centers under 24-hour guard.

The department of health did not respond to a query about the number of violation cases under investigation by the time we went to press.