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14
Wednesday, August 16, 1972
AMENDMENT PROPOSED TO ACCOUNTANTS BILL
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The Hon. Wilfred Wong today welcomed the Accountants Bill 1972
but proposed an amendment relating to accountants working for incorporated
non-profit-making charitable organisations.
He said it was traditional that these organisations would normally
have their books audited by a qualified accountant, now to be registered
under the Bill, but not necessarily holding a practising certificate.
He was speaking in the Legislative Council in support of the Bill
on its second reading.
Mr. Wong said it was unlikely that a person holding a practising
certificate would have the time to give free service to charitable
organisations which in the past have been helped by the qualified accountants.
The Bill, he said, would put these organisations in an "invidious"
position by depriving them of the traditional service which had hitherto
been given to them.
The Bill seeks to, among other things, prohibit any person from
practising public accountancy unless he is registered as an accountant and
holds a practising certificate.
Under the Bill, the Hong Kong Society of Accountants will be
incorporated and a Council set up as its governing body to provide for
the registration of accountants and regulation of their professional
practice and conduct.
/Mr. Wong