HONG KONG - The Hong Kong government will charge each occupant HK$200 a day for staying in temporary accommodation provided by the government from Tuesday to crack down on the abuse of quarantine centers.

The government has provided more than 700 people with temporary accommodation and daily necessities since Feb 8, according to an official statement

In a statement, the government said that there have been suspected cases of people abusing the temporary accommodation provided by the government. 

Since the 14-day mandatory quarantine measure took effect on February 8, numerous Hong Kong residents have repeatedly used the centers as temporary residence upon returning from frequent trips to the Chinese mainland, despite some of them having homes in Hong Kong. 

The government has provided more than 700 people with temporary accommodation and daily necessities since Feb 8, according to an official statement. Such consideration was extended to people who had claimed that they had no homes in Hong Kong or were unable to afford hotels.

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Starting from Feb 8, all people entering Hong Kong from the mainland or those who have been to the mainland in the immediate 14 days before their arrival in Hong Kong are subject to mandatory quarantine for 14 days.

The government’s three temporary accommodation centers at Tso Kung Tam Outdoor Recreation Centre, Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre, and Lady MacLehose Holiday Village are close to full capacity.

These three centers are exclusively for Hong Kong residents who have entered Hong Kong from the mainland, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department said.

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The spokesman told China Daily that no fee would be charged for persons quarantined at quarantine centers, including close contacts of patients and non-Hong Kong residents.