HONG KONG
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL – 2 November 1988 香港立法局——————————一九八八年十一月二日
23
are seeking an opinion or not, I will seek the advice of the Attorney General and you may ask the question at a subsequent meeting.
DR. IP: Sir, may I revise the question to make it in order?
HIS HONOUR THE PRESIDENT: You may try.
DR. IP: Is Government aware that laser is being applied by acupuncturists in the treatment of patients? Is Government aware that massage establishments are using shortwaves in treatment of clients? And is Government aware that beauticians are using ultrasonic waves and electrical stimulation in the treatment of clients?
SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE: Sir, the Medical and Health Department monitors the situation through the receipt of specific complaints. As far as I am aware the department has not received any specific complaints about the method of treatment that Dr IP has referred to.
DR. LEONG : Sir, I would like to refer back to the answer given to us by the Secretary for Health and Welfare on membership of the Committee on Science and Technology. I think his answer to me was only in respect of part of the committee which is on laser safety. My initial inference was that the whole Committee of Science and Technology look into the policies in respect of all newly developed high technology which ultimately will be used in medical treatment. Will the Administration consider adding more medically knowledgeable persons to the main committee?
SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE: Sir, I should have said in my original reply to Dr. LEONG's original supplementary that I am not the policy Secretary responsible for the Committee on Science and Technology whose members, I understand, are appointed by the Chief Secretary. I would certainly refer his recommendation to the Chief Secretary for consideration.
DR. IP: With reference to the answer "Section 31 of the Medical Registration Ordinance permits a person of Chinese race to practise medicine or surgery according to the purely Chinese methods", can Government inform this Council how a non-Chinese person can apply to practise acupuncture in Hong Kong?
HIS HONOUR THE PRESIDENT: That is somewhat outside the scope of the original question. Secretary for Health and Welfare, would you care to
comment?