A 63-year-old man was sentenced to imprisonment for seven days, suspended for 12 months by the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (May 17) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E).

     The man was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that he must conduct quarantine at a hotel for 21 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, he left the place of quarantine on October 15, 2021, 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 sentenced to imprisonment for seven days, suspended for 12 months by the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today.

     Breaching a compulsory 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 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 regulations. As of today, a total of 231 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching 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.

     The Government announced today (May 17) the addition of six designated quarantine hotels (DQHs). These six hotels will start accepting room bookings from this week and commence service from late May onwards. They are expected to provide about 2 000 additional rooms.
 
     As announced earlier by the Government, the inbound control measures were suitably adjusted according to risk-based principles from May 1 onwards. In anticipation of the continuously increasing number of inbound travellers, the Government issued letters to hotels and guesthouses with valid licences on April 25 to invite applications for enlisting as DQHs in the current cycle (i.e. the seventh cycle), with a view to increasing the supply of rooms in DQHs. Interested hotels must pass the inspection conducted by the Food and Health Bureau and relevant departments (including the Buildings Department, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and the Department of Health) to ensure that the design, facilities and workflow of the hotels fulfil the infection control requirements.
 
     A Government spokesman said, "A total of six hotels can join as DQHs after assessment. They will commence service till the end of the current cycle at the end of July."
 
     The six additional DQHs are as follows:
 

• Empire Hotel Kowloon．Tsim Sha Tsui
• Hotel Alexandra
• Hotel COZi‧Harbour View
• Hotel COZi‧Oasis
• Novotel Century Hong Kong
• Royal View Hotel
   

     The spokesman added, "The Government is still conducting assessments on other hotels applying for joining this cycle of DQHs. We will make a further announcement when relevant work is completed."
 
     Another 11 hotels, which had initially been used as community isolation facilities and were converted as DQHs, have applied to formally join the current cycle of the Designated Quarantine Hotel Scheme. These hotels will have their services extended till the end of July.
 
     The Government will update regularly the list of DQHs and their booking status on the thematic website www.designatedhotel.gov.hk.
 
     The Government fully implemented the Designated Quarantine Hotel Scheme on December 22, 2020, requiring all arrivals from specified places to undergo compulsory quarantine at DQHs with a view to further preventing the importation of COVID-19 cases and reducing contact between arrivals and the local community. The current cycle of the Designated Quarantine Hotel Scheme lasts for five months, starting from March 1 to July 31 this year. As at today, there are 62 DQHs in Hong Kong, providing around 22 000 rooms.

     Police today (May 17) appealed to the public for information on a body found case in Tsim Sha Tsui on December 10, 2021.
      
     At about 11.20pm that day, Police received a report that a man was found floating in the sea off 30 Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. The man was rescued and rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in unconscious state. He was certified dead later.

     The deceased was believed to be a Chinese man aged about 50 to 70. He was about 1.7 metres tall and was of fat build with short black hair. He was wearing a black jacket, a red vest, a pink shirt, a light green T-shirt, blue trousers and a watch. No identity document was found in his possession.

     Anyone who knows the deceased or has any information to offer is urged to contact officers of the Miscellaneous Enquiries Sub-unit of Marine Harbour Division on 3660 9316.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 17) closely monitoring an additional case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by Oman on April 28. The CHP again urged the public to pay special attention to safety and take due consideration of the health risks when visiting other places.

     According to the WHO, the additional case involve a male patient aged 34, who had exposure to dromedary camels and other animals on his family farm. The patient was admitted to hospital on April 24 and was transferred to an intensive care unit on April 25 for further management. He is now in critical condition.

     According to the latest information, 2 591 MERS cases have been reported to the WHO (with 894 deaths).

     "We will maintain close communications with the WHO and relevant health authorities," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "As countries in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, continue to report MERS cases from time to time, travellers should refrain from going to farms, barns or markets with camels and avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry. Most of the cases reported in the Middle East had a history of exposure to camels, consumption of camel milk or contact with other MERS patients," the spokesman said.

     "Scientific evidence shows that camels are reservoirs for MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Camels infected with MERS-CoV may not show any signs of infection. Infected animals may shed MERS-CoV through nasal and eye discharge and faeces, and potentially in their milk and urine. The virus may also be found in the raw organs and meat of infected animals. Therefore, the best protection is to practise good hygiene and avoid direct contact with all of these," the spokesman added.

     From time to time, suspected MERS cases reported to the CHP for investigation involve patients with a history of contact with camels in the Middle East. The CHP strongly advises travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS page of the CHP and its Travel Health Service to learn more about MERS statistics in affected areas. The public should also refer to the CHP's Facebook page and YouTube channel and the WHO's latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS.

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs on May 6 and yesterday (May 16) seized about 200 kilograms of suspected ketamine and about 350 grams of suspected heroin at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and in Sham Shui Po respectively. The total estimated market value was over $86 million. Five men suspected to be in connection with the case were arrested. 

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers on May 6 inspected an airborne consignment, declared as carrying drills, arriving in Hong Kong from the Netherlands via Taipei at an air cargo terminal in HKIA. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected ketamine, with an estimated market value of about $86 million, inside eight carton boxes.

     Customs officers arrested two men, aged 37 and 23, suspected to be connected with the case at HKIA on the same day. They have been released on bail pending further investigation.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers searched three residential premises in Sham Shui Po yesterday. About 350g of suspected heroin with an estimated market value of about $360,000, a small quantity of other drugs (including ketamine, ecstasy, cannabis buds and methamphetamine), a batch of drug packaging paraphernalia and a batch of banknotes valued at about HK$640,000 were seized. Three men aged between 44 and 62 suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.

     An investigation is ongoing. 

     Customs reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).