A man (second left) shows his vaccination pass before entering the M+ museum in Hong Kong on April 21, 2022, after the government eased some of the COVID-19 restrictions. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong government warned on Thursday that any person who submits false information on its online reporting platform for positive rapid antigen test results will be prosecuted and barred from using recovery QR code records for the Vaccine Pass.

In a statement issued on Thursday night, the government said it noticed recently that the proportion of COVID-19 cases reported on the platform that turned out to be negative was “significantly higher than the general false-negative rate” of RAT test results.

So far, the Centre for Health Protection has found six persons suspected of deliberately providing false information and three of them have been arrested

“After investigation, the government suspected that individual members of the public may have reported dated or false information in order to receive the recovery record QR code for meeting the Vaccine Pass requirement,” the statement reads.

So far, the Centre for Health Protection has found six persons suspected of deliberately providing false information and they were referred to the police for follow-up.

Three of them have been arrested and the police will consider taking appropriate actions against the remaining suspects, a government spokesman said.

ALSO READ: HK probes possible 'fake' virus reports as city sees 505 cases

He added that those who submit false information will no longer be able to use the quarantine orders issued by the government, recovery QR code records or any other relevant documents as a proof of recovery.

RAT cases that turn out to be negative after nucleic acid testing will be deleted from the confirmed case record, the spokesman said, adding that providing false or misleading information is a criminal offense and offenders are liable to a fine of HK$10,000 ($1,275) and imprisonment for six months.

The government appealed to persons who have recovered from COVID-19 and have not been vaccinated or have only received the first dose to make an appointment for vaccination as soon as possible to meet the requirements of the Vaccine Pass and get protection against the virus.

According to experts, recovered patients can safely receive their next dose no less than 28 days after recovery, the government said.

READ MORE: HK logs 237 cases, tweaks rules for arrivals, flight suspensions