Hong Kong beauty centre that offered breast enhancements and nose jobs ‘sold travel package extras’ in South Korea
Police searching for Japanese and Taiwanese owners of Tsim Sha Tsui parlour which offered one-stop travel arrangements for treatment in Seoul
Police are searching for the owners of a Hong Kong beauty centre that allegedly offered its clients one-stop travel services to fly to South Korea and receive plastic surgery, such as breast enhancement and rhinoplasty.
The owners of the beauty parlour – a Japanese man and a Taiwanese woman – were accused of violating Hong Kong laws under the Travel Agents Ordinance, according to police.
“In addition to plastic surgery, its services also included air tickets, hotel accommodation and transportation as well as interpretation and pick-up services,” said inspector Chan Chi-keung of Tsim Sha Tsui police station.
He said the firm, situated in Tsim Sha Tsui, ran the beauty company as a travel agency without an appropriate licence.
Under the regulation, conducting business as a travel agency without a licence carries a maximum penalty of HK$100,000 and two-year imprisonment.
A policewoman, posing as a client, visited the beauty centre on the 21st floor of Lokville Commercial Building in Lock Road to collect evidence, then arrested the saleswoman, 26, yesterday.
“The undercover agent was offered a five-day package that included breast enhancement, return air tickets, four-night hotel accommodation in Seoul and pick-up arrangement together with a Cantonese interpreter for HK$80,500,” Chan said.
He said nose reshaping treatment cost another HK$70,000.
Inside the beauty centre, officers seized computers, related documents and leaflets. Yesterday evening, the woman was still being held for questioning and had not been charged.
It was understood the beauty centre arranged for plastic surgery to be carried out in a hospital in Seoul and that treatments, such as liposuction and facelifts were also available.
Without naming the beauty centre, Chan said it had moved to the Tsim Sha Tsui office about 22 months ago and it also offered facial treatments.
“We are still investigating when it started offering these packages and how many customers received such one-stop services,” the inspector said, adding that an investigation had found it advertised through its website and the distribution of fliers.
The 21st-floor office of Lokville Commercial Building was occupied by two companies – IPS Beauty SPA Limited and IPS International Consultant Limited – whose registry records listed Kuramae Yosuke, a Japanese passport holder, and Lee Yi-en, a Taiwanese passport holder as its directors.
Nelson Yip Sai-hung, chairman of the Federation of Beauty Industry, said it had been quite common for Hongkongers to seek cosmetic surgeries in South Korea in the past five years, with the country’s drama and culture also achieving high popularity.
But he said it was usually more common for mainlanders to go on a tour to seek beauty treatment, while most Hongkongers would travel independently.
“The role of these middlemen was to provide information about the beauty centre to their clients. It is more about treatment information, such as which hospital specialised in what, and then to make bookings and accommodation arrangements for their clients,” said Yip.
