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Coronavirus Hong Kong
Hong KongLaw and Crime

Hong Kong police issue almost HK$90 million in fines over 11 months to more than 21,600 people for Covid-19 rule breaches

  • Force says it has issued 21,613 fixed-penalty notices amounting to HK$89.98 million in fines between April 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022
  • A total of 1,107 people were prosecuted for offences under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance during that period

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A police officer reminds people to comply with social-distancing rules. Photo: Edmond So
Gigi Choy
Hong Kong police issued almost HK$90 million (US$11.5 million) in fines to more than 21,600 people for breaching Covid-19 rules in the first 11 months of the last financial year, lawmakers were told on Monday.
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The city has implemented tough social-distancing rules in a bid to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, including the closure of specified premises such as bars, gyms and beauty parlours, requiring masks to be worn in indoor and outdoor public areas, capping the size of group gatherings and banning dine-in services at restaurants during specified hours.

In a written reply to Legislative Council members examining estimates of expenditure for the Security Bureau, the force said it had issued 21,613 fixed-penalty notices amounting to HK$89.98 million in fines under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance between April 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022.

Police officers and staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department warn visitors to comply with social-distancing rules earlier in February. Photo: Edmond So
Police officers and staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department warn visitors to comply with social-distancing rules earlier in February. Photo: Edmond So

A total of 1,107 people had been prosecuted for breaching the ordinance during the period.

Fixed-penalty notices were issued to 1,986 people for breaching social-distancing rules under Hong Kong’s Covid-19 regulations on specified premises, 13,525 people on group gatherings, and 6,102 people on wearing masks.

Those who flouted coronavirus regulations were subject to a HK$5,000 fixed penalty.

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A total of HK$7.33 million in fines were collected from people contravening the rules on specific premises, HK$61.54 million for violations of group gathering curbs and HK$21.1 million for mask-related offences.

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