Registering the physiotherapists
Physiotherapists are among the healthcare professionals who must be registered with their board before they are allowed to practise in Hong Kong; theirs is the Physiotherapists Board of the Allied Health Professions Council[1]. The governing law, Cap. 359, is now cited as the Allied Health Professions Ordinance after its 2025 amendment[2].
A registered person must not practise unless they hold a practising certificate of that profession that is in force, and practising without being registered is an offence under the Allied Health Professions Ordinance (Cap. 359)[2].
If the clinic is a company
Cap. 359 sets conditions for a company that practises physiotherapy, covering its directors and the physiotherapists it employs[2]. Read the company provisions in the consolidated Ordinance, or ask the Physiotherapists Board, before you incorporate the clinic.
Does the clinic need a PHFO licence?
Usually not. The Office for Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities says the Ordinance does not cover premises where only Chinese medicine practitioners and allied health professionals practise; they stay regulated under their own legislation and codes of practice[3]. Premises where registered medical practitioners or dentists practise are licensed, and physiotherapy provided in those same premises is covered by that licence[3].
| Set up | PHFO position |
|---|---|
| Physiotherapists only | Outside the Ordinance |
| Doctor's clinic with physiotherapy as a supporting service | Physiotherapy is reasonably incidental and covered by the clinic's licence or exemption |
| Company with doctor directors and a physiotherapist director | Not a small practice clinic: it must apply for a clinic licence |
Referrals
The Physiotherapists Regulation states that a physiotherapist must not provide services to a person unless that person is on referral by a registered medical practitioner or a registered Chinese medicine practitioner, subject to listed exceptions[4]. One exception covers a patient holding a diagnosis certificate issued by an eligible referrer not more than 12 months earlier[4]. A physiotherapist who wants to see patients without a referral, known as first-contact practice, must first complete the training the Physiotherapists Board publishes, through courses the Board accredits. Until then, build the referral letter into your intake form.
Business registration
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Apply | Within one month of starting business (sole proprietorship or partnership) |
| 1-year certificate, 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 | HK$2,350 (fee 2,200 plus levy 150) |
| 3-year certificate, same period | HK$6,170 (fee 5,720 plus levy 450) |
| Not applying | Fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for 1 year |
The certificate itself must be displayed in a conspicuous place at the address where the business is carried on and produced for inspection on demand[7].
What to check before signing a lease
If you plan to bring a doctor or dentist into the same premises later, the clinic regime will apply, so read the small practice clinic conditions first. If you will stay physiotherapy only, the board registration, the practising certificates and the business registration above are the core list.
Rules, forms and figures can change, and the official pages listed below are the authority wherever this summary differs from them.