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- June 30, 1906.]
the Bill was rend's second time certain criticisms | werd suggested, criticisms made with the object of improving the Bill no doubt, but criticisms which it would have been well had they bee delivered by members at the table. The Bil was again' considered in the light of the sugges tions that had been made, and was brought up to the Council a second time. In the meantime between the report by the Committee and the meeting of the Council to consider the report, the Bill had been subjected to further criticism. The first point was that the Bill if passed into law would cause dentistry to be dearer to the inhabitants generally than it is at the present moment. By restricting the number of persons who practice in the Colony you will raise the cost of the dental service. The second objection was this, that the effect of requiring, registration of dentists would be that the great body of Chinese and other Asiatics who live in the Colony would be deprived of dental aid because the unqualified Chinese and other dentists who practice at present would pass away in course of time, and would not be replaced. In other words 'the Chinese and other Asiatics would not be able to pay the fees which it was natural to expect would be demanded by persons who were properly trained dentists, as only the qualified persons would be allowed to practice. It was suggested that that difficulty might be overcome by exempting what were called Chinese dentists, and so the Law Committee at its final consideration of the Bill had these two propositions before it. As to the first of these, it could not be denied. If they limited the number of persons who were to practice it would be difficult for dentists to get asistants, and they could be sure that prices will not go down, but in all probability they would go up. On the second point they had to admit that the criticism was exhot; that unless the Bill was altered in a way to exempt Chinese dentiste-those who worked among the poorer people-the Chinesewould be without any dental assistance: It was proposed to exempt Chinese dentists as in the case ofhinese medical practitioners, but the hon. senior unofficial member, Dr. Ho Kai, pointed out there was no such thing as Chinese dentistry. There was a system of Chinese medicine, but you cannot define a Chinese dentist as practising a system of Chinese dentistry. It was therefore impossible to amend the Bill in that way. Having regard to the first consideration, and in view of the difficulty, the impracticability from point of view of making the necessary amendments, and in view of the feelings which pervaded the Committee generally, and which I am inclined to think is somewhat general throughout the community, that the Bill is really not called for¶n the interests of the com- munity, the Committee came to the conclusion to recommend the Government to consent to the Bill being withdrawn. Therefore, 1 noW move the adoption of this report.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
165
and I hope the Council will unanimously consent | than are imposed on the medical profession. to the withdrawal of this Bill.
it became law nobody but those holding Britisu diplomas or diplomas from the American universities would be allowed to practis, wheress doctor now people of any nationality "oan practise as
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The ATORNEY-GENERAL-No. If a German tootor practises here he must have English Luslifications,
The
His EXCELLENCY-Before putting the motion I should like to enquire of the Hon. the Attorney- General whether without this Bill it is possibio for dentists not holding a British diploma to recover fees?
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I don't know. I would rather not say,
Tho COLONIAL TREASURER -That is matter of agreement, Sir.
Hon. Mr. H&WATT-I trust I may le in order in supporting the resolution that this Bilt should be withdrawn, if I state briefly my reasons for supporting the resolution. The hon. and learned Attorney-General just now seemel to suggest that members who had criticisms to offer against the Bill should have done so at the second reading, Personally I disapproved of
Mr. HEWETT-I am a member of the Medical the Bill, and I am very glad that this course Board. I only remember one application being. has been adopted in connection with it. I did refused. Thit was a doctor holding a diploma not speak on the second reading, as the hon, and from a college in the United States, and the learned Attorney-General had proposed that it reason the application was refused was that he be referred to the Law Committee, and it had not served the minimum number of years seemed to me it would undoubtedly be materially that were required by the British Medical Board, altered in committee. It in my ignorance of th If this B.Il is put forward in the interests of procedure of the Council I deferred my remarks the public, it will have to be considerably to a less suitable date I express my regret. modified. I have pointed out that it will make At the second reading of the Bill I think I dentistry a close corporation, that it will not am right in stating that the hon. and learned improve the standard of dentistry, that it would Attorney-General stated that one of the reasons increase the cost of charges hers which are is as far as possible to ensure that for the future already sufficiently high, and it will deprive persons practising as dentists in this Colony the poorer class of people of any dental aid at shall be professionally educated as such. further spoke of the Bill as being liberal in its
He all, I can only say, in conclusion, that this Bill scope,
does not appear to have been called for, except "because it is proposed to permit persons perhaps by one or two professional men. possessing qualifications" as dentists other than majority of the members, do not desire this those recognised by the Medical Council of measure, which is absolutely unnecessary and England to practice. In other words it is uncalled for. Furthermore, I maintain its proposed that the large body of American principles were unjust. They were opposed to dentists who have been practising here for the principles on which our colonies have been many years shall continue to do so if they successfully guided, that we admit anybody, possess the qualifications which the Bill requires; whatever his nationality, provida he comes that is to say, if they have a degree or diploms there to work honestly and is likely to granted by the universities of Pennsylvania, nak Michigan or Harvard",
a good citizeą. Why should we We all know, Sir, that depart from the traditions of our empire auf it is the human failing of the fond parent to begin to legislate against certain people? I am ignore the faults of his offspring, and I can only glad the Bill has been withdrawn, and I hop suppose that this feeling explains the mental that next time the Bill is brought forward it' attitude which the hon. and learned Attorney. will be free of the objectionable fratures wh ch General has adopted towards his child, the Bill this Bill postesses. for the registration of dentists. He claims that it is a liberal measure, but I fail to find any indications of liberality in it at all. We know perfectly well that at the number of colleges where diplomas are granted the men must undergo a severe training, and must be highly qualified to enter a position of helping suffering humanity, but in this Bill it was proposed to deprive gentlemen who have been following an honourable calling with success to themselves and satisfaction to their patrons of their live lihood. One small exception is to be made in favour of dentists holding certificates granted by the three American colleges Members will remember that we are indebted to the United States for the discovery of dentistry. There are in Hongkong a number of highly-trained men engaged in the profession, who, if this Bill became law, would be deprived of their livelihood. That is to say, that the effect of this provision that only those holding British diplomas or those who are gradustes of the three universi. ties in the United States shall be entitled to Dr. Ho Kar seconded. He said-When the practice, the effect is to practically make a el se Bill came up for the second reading I did corporation. As I bave already said, one of the not oppose it in Conncil, thinking that in com provisions of the Bill was to ensure that those mittee some clause might be introduced who practised dentistry shall have had a proper modify the Bill and make it applicable to the professional training, but section 1 of the Ordin- mixed community in this Colony, that is to say ance distinctly exempts from professional train- those Europeans or those who care to pay a ing any man who likes to practise dentistry in heavy fee for high-olars dentistry should be at Hongkong. I maintain, without fear of con- liberty to do so, but at the same time the poorer tradiction from any hon. member present, that classes of the community, Europeans as well as no medical men who are not trained as dentists hinese and others, should as heretofore be are qualified to act as dentists, and I for one allowed to employ Chinese or other dentists should be extremely sorry to put myself into who have not obtained the qualifications the bands of medical men where there required by the New Ordinance. I was thinking specially trained men whose services as dentists of introducing a clause something like the one were available. I will not go further into detail, contained in the Medical Ordinance, exempting but I would remark, your Excellency, that there Chinese dentists who might be allowed to practice are a large number of people, Chinese and as heretofore, and providing that the provisions others, who cannot afford to pay the high fees of the new Ordinance should not apply to them, charged by those special experts in the Colony If that were not put in the effect would be that and have to obtain a certain amount of relief a large number of the community of Hongkong at less cost. I think it will be admitted would be without efficient dental aid. As regards that it is not necessary to have the same high Chinese dentistry, so far as my experience goes standard for dentistry as for medical surgery, the Chinese have no system of dentistry to yet according to the Bill you are enforcing a speak of, most of the Chinese dentists in this higher standard for dentists than for medical Colony practise the European system of dentis-practitioners. The medical profession is prac try, therefore if that exemption were granted, the tically thrown open to anyone. According to Chinese would be favoured and the European section 1 of the Ordinance of 1884 the medical practitioners would be placed in a disadvan- profession is open to anyone who has a diploms, tageous position. After considerable debate provided he has a good character. (Quotes and discussion, it was agreed that for the present section 1 of Ordinance of 1881). Now in the there was no need for an Ordinance of this kind, event of this Bill becoming law, the effect would and for this reason I beg to second the motion, ' be to impose greater restrictions ́upon"dentists
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His EXCELLENCY-Can you recover on such an agreement?
The COLONIAL TREASURER -Certainly, Mr. HOWETT -l'he dsual protica here among dentists is to examiu; you for nothing and give you an estimate of the cost of the work that may be necessary.
His EXCELLENCY-That does not answer the question I ask.
Mr. HEWETT-I beg yo ur pardon. His EXCELLENCY-The question is whether they can legally recover fees?
The ATTORNEY-GENE¿AL-I olanɔt say. There is no legislation on the subject.
The COLONIAL SECRTARY-There is na Imperial Act.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—Yes. The motion was agreed to.
REFUSE DESTRUCTOR,
The Hon. DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORKs laid on the table the report of proceedings of the Public Works Committee at a mesting held on June 21st. It read as follows:
The Committee had before it a sohems for reclaiming an area of land immediately west of Cadogan Street and south of Cunter Street (extende.!), and for erecting on this a destructor capable of denting with 100 tous of refuse per day, together with quarters for a superinten- deat and 300 coolies, the estimated cost being as follows:
Reclamation of site, including 50-foot road in extension of Chster Street, Destructor buildings, inclu-ling piled foundations, chimney, approach road (incline) and iron boundary fence, Machinery, including 12 cells and furnaces with fon and engine, two boiler, slab-making ma- chine, trăm-lines and trucks, etc.,
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$160,700
98,100
8500
Quarters for Superintendent,
Do. 3 0 Coolies,
15,000
75,000
Total,
$131,300