China travel delayed Vancouver doctor’s arrest for alleged sex assaults of teen girls

By Canadian Press on February 3, 2026.

VANCOUVER — Police in Vancouver say their investigation into a local doctor for allegedly sexually assaulting teenage female patients took almost two years to result in charges because the suspect went to China.

Investigators who are encouraging other potential victims to come forward say 65-year-old Herman Hau Man Lee from Vancouver was arrested in November and has now been charged with sexual assault and sexual interference in both cases.

The charges come after a multi-year investigation beginning in March 2023, when police learned of a 17-year-old girl who had allegedly been assaulted by the doctor over a number of years while attending a clinic in the Chinatown neighbourhood.

Police say the investigation then uncovered another case in 2015 where the same doctor allegedly assaulted a 14-year-old girl at a clinic in Burnaby.

They say Lee is now out on bail and remains a practising physician in British Columbia, although he is not allowed to treat anyone under 16 without another adult being present.

Supt. Dale Weidman told a media briefing that investigators “had to wait” for Lee’s return from China.

“Part of it was, this Dr. Lee left the country for a period of time, so some of that time is built into his absence,” he said.

Investigators believe there may be more victims and have urged them to come forward.

“We want to assure everyone that if you do come forward you will be met with care and compassion,” said Weidman, who added that a tip line had been arranged for potential victims.

Leah Zille, executive director of The Treehouse Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, was also at the police news conference on Tuesday.

She said her organization would help parents and children “during some of the most difficult and stressful times of your life.”

“We bring all of the professionals, the right people, that need to help figure out what happened to the child and to support the child,” she said, “so families don’t need to navigate these complex systems on their own.”

Weidman said in a statement that potential victims “will receive trauma-informed support throughout the investigative process.”

He said the police understand the choice to come forward is personal and may take time, however.