By The SUN
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| A Filipina is asked for her identity proof by police enforcers on Chater Road |
At least one Filipino male was made to pay the fixed penalty of $5,000 after being caught in public on Sunday, Feb 13, without a mask on.
This was according to bystanders who witnessed the apprehension
near
The man had reportedly taken off his mask to drink and did not put it back on. He was throwing rubbish into a large trash can in the area when an officer spotted him.
In contrast, a large group of Filipinos that gathered near the IFC building in Central with their masks off got off lucky as they were just given a verbal warning.
However, neither incident could be independently confirmed with the police.
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Another Filipina is shown in a photo supplied by the police in the act of showing her identity documents, but it could not be confirmed if she was being ticketed or was just given a warning.
A police spokeswoman told the SUN earlier today that they could not give additional information on the 17 people who were fined $5,000 each for violating the tightened gathering restrictions imposed since Thursday amid the massive surge in Covid-19 cases.
However, those fined were most likely FDHs as the sweeping operation was conducted only among known haunts of helpers in Hong Kong.
According to the statement issued by the police and the Food and Environmental Health Department last night, another 11 people were given verbal warnings.
In addition, the FEHD said it arrested three persons for
illegal hawking in public places in the vicinity of
They also seized abandoned items including cooked food weighing about 48 kilos.
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| A group is questioned, apparently for group gathering violation |
The police, along with staff of the FEHD, Labour Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, roamed known haunts of FDHs across several districts to ensure the stricter gathering regulations are complied with.
According to the tightened restrictions under cap 599G, a maximum of two people are allowed to gather in public. Failing to wear a mask in public is also an offence under Cap 599I.
Those who violate both regulations are subject to a fixed penalty of $5,000 each. The fine was doubled starting Thursday for those caught not wearing a mask on public transportation, and those who do not comply with a compulsory testing notice.
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The police issued photos accompanying their press release
showing the Filipina on
However, the police did not make it clear if the ones questioned were fined or just given verbal warnings.
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One group that gathered on
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| A shot taken by the police from an elevated place shows most people stuck to the strict gathering rule |
The police told the organizers that someone had informed them that a large gathering was going to be held at the site starting at 3pm, and they wanted to make sure no violation would be committed.
The officers left without issuing any penalty ticket after being assured that no mass gathering was being organized, and that participants had been told to strictly follow the two-to-a-group regulation.
According to the government statement, the joint operations were held in Central and Western, Wan Chai, Yau Tsim, Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po, Shatin, Sai Kung and Tsuen Wan districts.
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The teams distributed leaflets advising the public about the
enhanced regulations and used loud speakers to broadcast the reminder in
multiple languages in the vicinity of
