A doctor was among four people arrested by Hong Kong police on Thursday after three women who had received Botox injections at a beauty centre in Jordan developed symptoms of botulism, a rare but serious illness.

The Post learned that the doctor, Dr Tai Kong-shing, was also among six medical practitioners arrested by police in September on suspicion of issuing bogus Covid-19 vaccine exemption certificates to patients.

Tai and three women were detained in a series of police raids at their flats in Yau Ma Tei, Tseung Kwan O and Tsuen Wan after daybreak on Thursday.

The three women comprised two directors of CC Beauty, the centre involved in the case, aged 35 and 43, and a businesswoman aged 40.

Some of them were escorted to CC Beauty’s office in Hang Bong Commercial Centre on Shanghai Street in Jordan during lunch time, where officers carried out a search to gather evidence.

According to the force, the suspects were detained on suspicion of practising medicine without registration, conspiracy to practice medicine without registration, or assisting the practice of medicine without registration.

As of Thursday afternoon, the suspects have been held for questioning and no one has been charged. Detectives from the Yau Tsim district crime squad are handling the case.

According to the Centre for Health Protection, one of the three victims received botulinum toxin, or Botox as it is commonly known, injections over the calves and shoulder at the beauty centre on November 12.

The 45-year-old woman, who had a good health record, experienced symptoms such as dizziness, dysphonia, limb weakness, girdle weakness and breathing difficulty the next day. She went to Princess Margaret Hospital in Lai Chi Kok to seek treatment and was admitted on November 22.

The other two victims, both aged 42, each received the injections on both sides of their faces at the beauty centre on November 7 and 10.

The woman who underwent the beauty treatment on November 7 had developed a series of symptoms, such as rigidity around the corner of her mouth, blurred vision, slurred speech, upper limb weakness and numbness and shortness of breath, since November 14.

The other victim had also suffered from rigidity around the corner of the mouth, with chewing difficulties, blurred vision, drooping of the upper eyelid known as ptosis and palpitations since November 18.

Both were admitted to Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei on Monday.

According to the Department of Health, the three women were in stable condition and the clinical diagnosis was suspected iatrogenic botulism, a rare but serious condition which can develop when too much botulinum toxin is injected for cosmetic or medical reasons.

The Centre for Health Protection has set up an inquiry hotline – 2125 2372 – for related botulism cases, urging those who received the injections at the Jordan beauty centre and experienced symptoms of the illness to contact them.

Those with symptoms of neurological system impairment such as drooping eyelids, double or blurred vision, problems with chewing, hoarseness, difficulties with swallowing, speaking or breathing after receiving the injections at the beauty clinic have also been urged to call the hotline, as officers would assess their condition and arrange for follow-ups.

“Due to the weakening of associated muscles and the fact that botulinum toxin may spread and affect other areas beyond the injection site, affected patients may present with the above-mentioned symptoms, which may happen hours, days or weeks after the injection,” the spokesman said.

“Botulinum toxin injections should only be performed by a locally registered doctor,” he said, warning customers should check the identity of the service provider as well as their professional qualifications and relevant experience.