The Government has put in place a series of measures to minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19, among which is the compulsory quarantine requirement. However, some people have been sent to quarantine centres due to breaches of quarantine orders. In order to enforce the law, officers of Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories South (RMPU NTS) have assisted the Centre for Health Protection in investigating these cases. Since the quarantine order lasts for 14 days, officers usually have a rush timeline to meet when they are informed to take over an investigation.

The Officer-in-Charge of RMPU NTS Iu Sin-hang said, “Officers responsible for conducting investigation at the quarantine centre in Chun Yeung Estate were a bit worried that if they contract the disease, they might pass it to their family members. Despite the risk of infection, they put on personal protective equipment (PPE) and carried on with their investigation in a professional and timely manner. As some of the people under compulsory quarantine came from different countries, officers sometimes worked with interpreters to conduct interviews. One of the longest interviews lasted for nine hours, during which the conversation was translated into three languages. It is encouraging that in a recent case handled by our team, a person who had breached the compulsory quarantine requirement was sentenced to ten days’ imprisonment.”

On the other hand, interpreters have provided valuable assistance to the Police in the investigation. One of them is a Japanese interpreter Ms Hayakawa. At first, she was a bit worried about the situation at the quarantine centre in Chun Yeung Estate, fearing that she might contract the disease and further pass it to her family. With a comprehensive explanation from the Police on the workflow and sufficient PPE provided, as well as the thoughtful help from the Police in the gowning and de-gowning process of PPE, Ms Hayakawa understood the risk of contracting the disease was low and felt safe working with the Police in conducting interviews. Throughout the work at the quarantine centre, she experienced the difficulties faced by police officers as they avoided eating and drinking as well as going to the washroom in order not to use another set of PPE. “The successful investigation into these quarantine breaches is by and large the joint efforts of the Police and these helpful interpreters. I would like to say a big ‘Thank You’ to them,” Ms Iu said.