Press Releases

SFH on beauty parlour workers posing as medical practitioners

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a public function today (May 5):

Reporter: How would the authorities judge whether beauty parlours are posing as medical practitioners and is there anything the Government would do to prevent similar incidents from happening again?

Secretary for Food and Health: Firstly, as I have said, I would like to appeal to our citizens whenever they fall ill, they should seek consultation or assistance from registered healthcare workers. This is the best way to protect their own interests. Secondly, the Department of Health is very stringent in monitoring advertisements on the market to pick up whether there would be any elements involving non-registered personnel posing themselves as healthcare workers. Also, it would consider whether the evidence collected would be adequate for the Police to prosecute the persons involved. Factors to be taken into account include how they present themselves to their clients, whether they pose themselves as medical practitioners or Chinese medicine practitioners, and whether they have carried out or conducted any procedures which could be considered as medical treatments, including high-risk and invasive procedures.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Thursday, May 5, 2016
Issued at HKT 14:39

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