Hong Kong beautician who claimed Chinese therapy could aid pregnancy arrested for unregistered practice
Woman held along with beauty centre’s manager after allegedly offering the treatment to an undercover officer
A beautician was arrested on Monday on suspicion of practising Chinese medicine without registration after she was accused of offering therapy to help an undercover policewoman get pregnant.
The director of the Tsim Sha Tsui beauty centre, 41, was accused of aiding and abetting the beautician, 56. She was also arrested for the violation of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a HK$100,000 fine.
Police and health officers began investigating the beauty centre after the Department of Health received a complaint about a month ago.
Shortly before noon on Monday, an undercover policewoman in her 20s posed as a customer and went into the centre on Granville Road.
“Our undercover officer was told that moxibustion therapy could help her get pregnant easily,” acting chief inspector Chan Chi-keung said.
He said the beautician used a machine filled with moxa powder, a ground-up Chinese herb.