批台隔離環境像監獄 英國情侶透過英國辦事處發聲明致歉

一對英國情侶在台灣隔離檢疫抱怨花蓮檢疫中心像監獄，經英國媒體BBC報導後引發軒然大波。英國在台辦事處今(27)日晚間轉發當事人中英文聲明，英國女子道森強調，她事前不知報導內容，對引發風波致歉。

28歲的道森與澳洲籍男友皮克斯利14日來台轉機，受疫情影響決定留在台灣，依規定，非本國籍人士均需接受14天隔離，因為現金不夠住旅館，因此接受安排住進花蓮檢疫所。道森的母親向BBC轉達女兒的抱怨，批評台灣隔離環境像是在監獄。

這份正式聲明中，道森認為BBC文章的大部分內容並不正確，經過渲染，她強調，完全尊重台灣的隔離檢疫措施，且從未質疑其重要性。入住檢疫中心初期遇到的問題都在管理人員與英國在台辦事處人員協助下解決，她非常感激。

道森說，她了解母親十分擔心離家很遠、在全球疫情大流行時處於陌生環境的女兒。不過，她從未要求或希望母親與媒體聯絡。對後續發生的事件感到很遺憾，也樂見BBC已移除報導。聲明全文如下：

「I know there has been a huge amount of press attention after an article about my quarantine in Taiwan. I feel that much of this is inaccurate so I wanted to give my perspective on an issue that feels like it’s been blown out of proportion.

I fully respect Taiwan’s approach to quarantine and I have never questioned the importance of it. When I first arrived at the quarantine centre there were some issues but these were all resolved working with the centre management and British Office and I am very grateful for that.

I know my mum has been very worried, with me so far away, in unfamiliar surroundings and at a time of a global health pandemic, but I never asked or wanted her to speak to the press. I really regret that happened and I am pleased the article has now been removed.

Taiwan is somewhere I’ve been excited about visiting for so long. I am very grateful to the Taiwanese authorities for their support during my quarantine and I am sorry that this has happened.」