Fake Covid exemptions: more than 20,000 certificates will no longer be valid from October 12, Hong Kong government says, as another doctor arrested
- Police raid Mong Kok clinic, seizing patient records, computer and HK$56,000 from doctor suspected to have issued 3,196 certificates at up to HK$5,000 each
- Case comes on heels of string of arrests last week in separate raids on three doctors’ clinics in Chai Wan, Yuen Long and Tung Chung
More than 20,000 Covid-19 vaccination exemption certificates issued in Hong Kong by seven doctors allegedly without proper medical diagnosis will no longer be valid from next month, the government has announced.
The number of certificates issued by the seven general practitioners – six of whom were arrested this month including one on Tuesday – accounted for more than half of all currently valid exemptions, the government said.
“The government has reasonable grounds to suspect that the doctors involved had not properly followed the Department of Health’s guideline while issuing the certificates,” it said.
The development came as doctor Fu Yuen-lung, 65, who practised in Mong Kok, was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of issuing exemption documents without following the relevant government guideline.
He became the sixth general practitioner detained this month. The doctor involved in the first case, which came to light in March, is wanted by police.
Fu allegedly issued 3,196 exemption certificates in his Mong Kok clinic between February and May this year, charging patients HK$3,000 to HK$5,000 (US$637) each, according to police.
The force launched an investigation after receiving a complaint about the doctor, who was accused of failing to follow Department of Health guidelines and issuing the certificates without proper medical consultation or examination of patients’ medical records.
After gathering evidence, officers raided the Lai Chi Kok Road clinic at about 9am on Tuesday and arrested the man on suspicion of issuing forged documents. In the clinic, police seized patient records and a computer, along with HK$56,000.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Fu was still being held for questioning by the Mong Kok district crime squad. Police are not ruling out further arrests.
The force and a government spokesman stressed that manufacturing and using a false document was a serious offence punishable by up to 14 years in jail.
The government spokesman said more than 20,000 certificates issued by the seven doctors would not be accepted from October 12. People who needed the documents were advised to consult other doctors to determine whether they were suitable to get jabs or should continue to enjoy the exemptions.
On September 22, police arrested three doctors – two men and a woman – in separate raids in Chai Wan, Yuen Long and Tung Chung over similar crimes.
The three general practitioners – Amy Lam Ding-yee, Wong Ping-leung and Charlie Yan Kam-sun – were suspected to have issued more than 9,200 exemption certificates between February and September.
In an earlier case on September 20, another doctor, Tai Kong-shing, 76, and his three female assistants were arrested in a raid on his Yau Ma Tei clinic. The doctor was later charged with three counts of accessing computers with dishonest intent. Two days later, police arrested eight of his patients in connection with the case.
On September 5, Dr Annie Choi Suk-mui, 64, whose clinic is in Yuen Long, was arrested for allegedly issuing exemption certificates without proper diagnoses. She was accused of issuing more than 14,300 exemption certificates between February and September.
A total of 14 of her patients were also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud between September 7 and 14.
The first doctor – Dr Chan Hoi-yuk – was placed on a police wanted list in March after being accused of selling a vaccine exemption certificate for HK$800 to an undercover officer in his Kwun Tong clinic.
Police said in March that the doctor had not returned to Hong Kong since last June but still ran the clinic and consulted patients online. In March, police arrested two women, aged 28 and 69, in connection with the case. The 28-year-old worked as a nurse at Chan’s clinic.
