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country, empowered under the proposed Order-in-Council,
Would be a degree granted in a British possession,
even though it is granted on behalf of a University
in a British possession. (The definition of a
"British possession" in the Act expressly excludes
the United Kingdom).
(b) As to (2) above, Section 11 of the Hong Kong Medical Registration Ordinance (No.41 of 1935, of which I enclose a copy for your information) provides that "any person who holds any degree of medicine and surgery
granted by the University of Hong Kong" shall be
entitled to be registered for practice in Hong Kong. -.For the time being, however, the law of Hong Kong
is subject to the exercise by the Japanese of their
right under international law to interfere as far as
necessary for military purposes, and we do not,
of
cour se know how far the Ordinance can at present be
,
regarded as operative.
(c) Further, (again with reference to (2) above, no person is "entitled to practice" (except to the very limited extent to which practice is not covered by the prohibition in Section 15) until he is in fact registered
in Hong Kong.
3. As regards objection (b) it may be that in construing
the Medical Act, interference by the Japanese should be
disregarded.
4 Objection (e) might perhaps be met by making provision, by Order-in-Council, for temporary registration, for the purposes of the Hong Kong law, in this country, under arrange-
ments to be made by the Colonial Office.
under the Medical Act
5. Even if registration here/is found to be impracticable,
ionthere
the position is that, by creating this statutory body empowered to grant medical degrees on behalf of the University, the students will be granted degrees which will be deemed to have been conferred by the University and will, by virtue of the Ordinance referred to above, be able to be registered and to practice in Hong Kong on the liberation of that Colony.
7. We