Xiao Hongci, a visiting Chinese writer was a Wall Street financier before he devoted himself to the folk medicine. But recently, he had to face the wrath of multiple fines after he was found guilty by the Taipei City government Department of Labor of violating Taiwan's employment law, medical treatment law and immigration law.

The officials fined him NT$30,000 (US$1,034) as they believe that he was promoting folk medicine practices such as slapping massage therapy and stretching in Taipei without obtaining a required permit to do it.

The public relations company, Da Da Art had invited Xiao to Taiwan to deliver a lecture and it was also slammed with the fine of NT$150,000 (US$5,172).

Giving an explanation on the incident, Da Da Art owner Lee Ming-chih said that they had mailed a work permit application to Taipei City Department of Labor but they didn’t receive any response from their side.

At the same time, the National Immigration Agency stated that all the visitors from abroad needed to explain the purpose of their visit on their landing forms and Xiao, who holds U. S. citizenship, had entered Taiwan visa free on a business trip.

A department official mentioned, “Although Xiao stressed that he was not a doctor and was not visiting Taiwan to treat patients, he claimed that the practices of self-administering slapping massages and stretching the tendons have certain medical effects”.