Government beauty centre probe finds no wrong
Government probe unearths no broken laws, but inspectors criticised for not being undercover
A government investigation into high-risk procedures at beauty centres has uncovered no legal violations, lawmakers were told yesterday.
Health department director Dr Constance Chan Hon-yee told a Legislative Council panel meeting that department inspectors had visited seven beauty centres this month.
"Six of these centres employed qualified doctors, while one has stopped providing the related therapies. No violations were found," she said.
The inspectors initially collected more than 200 advertisements, posted by about 50 beauty centres that promote high-risk treatments, such as stem cell therapy, injections and lasers, she said.
Civic Party legislator Kwok Ka-ki said the government should send undercover inspectors to the centres. "You are sending in officers who [might as well wear signs on their heads] saying 'I am coming to catch you'. How can you find anything inappropriate in this case?" said Kwok.
The inspections follow four women getting septic shock after receiving blood transfusion "health treatments" at a DR beauty chain centre. One of the women died and three remain in hospital. All four contracted a rare and deadly superbug.