The Legislative Council on Wednesday passed legislation allowing non-locally trained dentists to practise in Hong Kong.

The Dentists Registration (Amendment) Bill also requires local dentistry graduates to intern at specified institutions for a year before registration.

During the bill's debate in Legco, Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau called it a "historic moment" for the city's dental profession.

"This is the most comprehensive amendment to the Dentists Registration Ordinance in Hong Kong in over 60 years," he told lawmakers.

Lo added that the Department of Health will start hiring non-locally trained dentists and aims to have the first batch arrive here in the first quarter of next year.

The government has said there's a shortage of dentists in Hong Kong, with the shortfall expected to persist until 2040 before easing slightly.

The health minister also reiterated that the one-year internship requirement has nothing to do with a shortage of dentists in the public sector.

"Even if the Department of Health achieves zero vacancy through local and non-local recruitment in future, the government will undertake to arrange internships for all local dental graduates to enhance their skills. This will not be affected by manpower supply or demand," he said.

The internship arrangement will apply to local dental students graduating in the summer of 2025 and onwards.