Publications and Press Releases

30 September 2021

Two Indonesian foreign domestic helpers were jailed by Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday (September 29) for breaching conditions of stay by engaging in unregistered dentistry.

Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators conducted a series of investigation actions in mid-April this year and arrested four foreign domestic helpers suspected of renting a room in a guesthouse on their weekly rest days or holidays, and breaching their conditions of stay by providing dental services for their compatriots there. Relevant exhibits were seized from the guesthouse concerned. The arrested foreign domestic helpers have never received any formal dental training and were not registered dentists in Hong Kong.

The four arrested foreign domestic helpers were charged with breaching their conditions of stay by engaging in unregistered dentistry and among them, two foreign domestic helpers were convicted and sentenced earlier. The other two foreign domestic helpers also pleaded guilty to the charges at Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday. They were charged with breaching their conditions of stay by providing dental services and were sentenced to two months and 12 days' imprisonment. The two foreign domestic helpers concerned were also charged with aiding and abetting the practising of dentistry by an unregistered person and were sentenced to three months' imprisonment. All sentences are to run concurrently, making for a total of three months' imprisonment.

"A helper should only perform domestic duties for the employer specified in the contract. The helper should not take up any other employment, including part-time domestic duties, with any other person. The employer should not require or allow the helper to carry out any work for any other person. Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties," an ImmD spokesman said.

The spokesman also stressed that, as stipulated in section 3(1)(a) of the Dentists Registration Ordinance, any person who is not a registered dentist, and practises dentistry within Hong Kong shall be guilty of an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.