WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1984
18
MEDICAL CLINICS BILL INTRODUCED
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THE MEDICAL CLINICS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 SEEKS TO REMOVE THE TIME LIMITATION ON THE REGISTRAR OF CLINICS' POWER TO EXEMPT CERTAIN CLINICS FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MEDICAL MANAGEMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR CHING SAID THE PRESENT POWER OF THE REGISTRAR HAD A TIME LIMITATION WHICH COULD BE EXTENDED ONLY BY A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL RESOLUTION.
+THIS TIME LIMITATION HAS BEEN SO EXTENDED NO LESS THAN SIX TIMES OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, HE POINTED OUT.
HE SAID THE LIMITED SERVICES PERFORMED BY THESE CLINICS WERE STILL USEFUL AND THAT THEY SHOULD CONTINUE IN OPERATION FOR AS LONG AS THEY COULD MEET THE REQUIRED STANDARDS.
+IN RECOGNITION OF THE SITUATION, AND SO AS TO DISPENSE WITH THE NEED FOR PERIODICAL RESOLUTIONS TO BE MADE, THE BILL SEEKS TO REMOVE THE TIME LIMITATION ON THE REGISTRAR'S POWER,+ HE EXPLAINED.
SUPERVISION WOULD CONTINUE TO BE MAINTAINED OVER THE OPERATION OF THESE CLINICS, AND EXEMPTIONS WOULD ONLY BE RENEWED IF THE CLINICS CONCERNED CONTINUED TO BE RUN SATISFACTORILY, HE ADDED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
NO EVIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE INCREASE
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THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF AN INCREASE IN THE INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE IN RECENT YEARS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING, SAID TODAY.
+AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CASES WOULD BE A MEASURE OF THE SUCCESS ACHIEVED IN IMPLEMENTING THE NEW PROCEDURES WHICH I OUTLINED IN THIS COUNCIL IN MAY LAST YEAR.. THE IR PURPOSE WAS TO ENSURE THAT, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, ALL CASES ARE BROUGHT TO EARLY OFFICIAL NOTICE SO THAT APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE MAY BE GIVEN, MR CHING SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PETER C. WONG.
MR CHING SAID ALSO THAT TEMPORARY SHELTER WAS AVAILABLE FOR ANY ABUSED CHILD WHO NEEDED TO BE PLACED UNDER PROTECTION.
/+OF COURSE
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