WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1980
10.
•THE SETTING OF TRAINING STANDARDS, QUAL IF ICATIONS AND THE PROVISION OF REGISTRATION PROCEDURES FOR PERSONS WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THE CARE OF PATIENTS IN THE OPERATION OF HEALTH SERVICES WILL BE WIDELY WELCOMED BY THE PROFESSIONS CONCERNED AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC, HE SAID.
+PROPER CONTROL IS CRUCIAL IN IMPROVING AND EXPANDING HONG KONG'S MEDICAL SERVICES. I HOPE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT TAKE LONG IN PRODUCING THE REGULATIONS FOR THE RESPECTIVE PROFESSIONS IN ORDER THAT THE AIMS OF THE BILL CAN BE IMPLEMENTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.+
DR FANG NOTED THAT THE BILL ONLY INCLUDED FOUR PARA- MEDICAL PROFESSIONS, NAMELY MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS RADIOGRAPHERS, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS.
HE SAID THERE WERE OTHER PARA-MEDICAL PROFESSIONS WHOSE CONTROL WAS EQUALLY NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC PROTECTION AND URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF THIS OMNIBUS BILL TO BRING THEM UNDER COVER.
ONE AMENDMENT CONCERNS SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSIONS WHO ARE EXPERIENCED BUT, BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, UNQUALIFIED ACADEMICALLY TO MEET THE NEW PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS.
ALTHOUGH PROVISIONS HAD BEEN MADE TO SOME EXTENT IN THE ORIGINAL DRAFT BILL TO ACCOMMODATE THEM, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCEPTED THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS' SUGGESTION TO GO ONE STEP FURTHER TO PROVIDE FOR SPECIFIC REGISTRATION OF THESE PEOPLE WHOM DR FANG DESCRIBES AS THE GRANDFATHERS OF THE PROFESSIONS.
IN RESPECT OF THE REGULATIONS TO BE MADE FOR EACH OF THE PARA-MEDICAL PROFESSIONS, HE SAID THE UNOFFICIALS HAVE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAVING AMPLE TIME TO STUDY THE REGULATIONS BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL.
THE PRESENT PROVISION OF TWO WEEKS, I.E. ONE SITTING OF THE COUNCIL, ALLOWED FOR THE SCRUTINY OF REGULATIONS TABLED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS CONSIDERED INADEQUATE.
+PUBLIC CONSULTATION, PARTICULARLY WITH THE NUMEROUS PROFESSIONAL BODIES CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN THESE PROFESSIONS IS ESSENTIAL.
+GOVERNMENT SHOULD THEREFORE ENSURE THAT THE VIEWS OF INTERESTED AND CONCERNED PARTIES ARE SOUGHT BEFORE THE RESPECTIVE REGULATIONS ARE ENACTED, DR FANG ADDED.
THE HON PETER C. WONG AND DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI ALSO SPOKE ON THE BILL.
DR HO CALLED FOR A CHANGE IN PROCEDURE RELATING TO THE PASSAGE OF REGULATIONS.
THE EXISTING LAW, HE SAID, PROVIDES THAT ALL RULES, REGULATIONS AND BY-LAWS, AFTER HAVING BEEN LAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WILL BE PASSED AT THE SUBSEQUENT SITTING OF THE COUNCIL.
/HE SAID