Hong Kong health authorities have issued offers to 12 non-locally trained dentists, including three that began their practice in the city last month, with all of them fluent in Cantonese and English as the city attempts to ease labour shortages.

The Department of Health on Wednesday said it was expected the rest of the new hires would have their limited registration approved in the coming two months as they met the requirements for dentists, such as being able to speak both languages fluently.

Dr Kitty Hse Mei-yin, consultant in-charge for the department’s dental services, said authorities had embarked on a two-month global recruitment push last July, after the Legislative Council approved amendments to the Dentist Registration Ordinance, allowing non-locally trained dentists to work in the city without having to pass the city’s licensing exams.

“At the end of September, we received a very enthusiastic response with over 90 applications,” Hse said.

“Through a rigorous selection process, we chose 12 dentists who are non-locally trained. We have issued them an offer to join the Department of Health.”

Hse said the 12 dentists submitted their application for limited registration after the commencement of the new mechanism for the admission of non-locally trained dentists to Hong Kong on January 1 this year,