Health Department Warns Against Fake Dental Implant Subsidy Ads on Social Media

DH urges public to be cautious of fraudulent advertisement regarding "Government dental implant subsidy scheme"

The Department of Health (DH) today (September 18) urged the public to be cautious of fraudulent advertisement on social media claiming that the Government has launched a "dental implant subsidy scheme for people aged 50 and older".

The DH clarified that it has not launched such scheme. The case has been reported to the Police. The social media platform has also been informed to follow up on the fraudulent advertisement. Members of the public who have clicked on any unknown hyperlink of the advertisement or provided his/her personal information to any suspicious website should contact the Police immediately.

A dental implant is a biocompatible (e.g. titanium) structure embedded in the jawbone, It is used to support false teeth such as crowns, bridges or dentures, to replace a lost tooth, or in combination with bridges or dentures to replace multiple or all lost teeth. Generally, a dental implant requires an oral surgical procedure. Depending on the general and oral health conditions, not everybody is suitable to receive implant treatment. The DH reminded the public that if they decide to have dental implant treatment outside Hong Kong, they should pay attention to the following points:

1. verify the actual address of the clinic where the treatment will be performed and the background and credentials of the attending dentist;
2. request the local registration number and proof of qualifications of the attending dentist, and verify them with the official regulatory authorities; and
3. enquire about the clinic's complaint handling mechanism and contingency procedures for medical incidents.

To safeguard the public's oral health, the Government adopts the strategy of widely promoting among citizens across all age groups prevention-oriented primary oral healthcare, with a view to putting into action prevention, early identification and timely intervention of dental diseases with the objective of retaining teeth. At the same time, the Government provides appropriate oral health and dental care services for underprivileged groups with financial difficulties and special needs in a bid to ensure access to essential dental care services by these groups.

In May 2025, the DH launched the Community Dental Support Programme (CDSP) to provide targeted and subsidised dental services, including oral health assessments, medication for dental pain relief (if necessary), X-ray examinations, and dental fillings or extractions to the underprivileged groups with financial difficulties to encourage service users to retain teeth when deemed appropriate by dentists. Since January this year, the CDSP has expanded the service scope, supplanted the Community Care Fund Elderly Dental Assistance Programme, and included the homeless. The new service items include dental scaling, root canal treatment, removal of bridges and crowns and fitting of removable dentures. For more information, please visit the DH's thematic webpage.

Source: AI-found images

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming male passenger was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 18) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted a 25-year-old Mainland male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, at Hong Kong International Airport on September 16 and seized about 66 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $297,000 and a duty potential of about $218,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account(crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases