WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1935
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FIRST STEP TAKEN TO CONTROL OPTOMETRY
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A FIRST STEP TOWARDS PLACING THE OPTOMETRY PROFESSION UNDER LEGISLATIVE CONTROL WAS BEING TAKEN UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS, MIDWIVES REGISTRATION AND NURSES REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE,
THE HON CHAU TAK-HAY, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR CHAU SAID THAT IT WOULD OPEN THE WAY TO MAKE REGULATIONS PRESCRIBING THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION AS AN OPTOMETRIST AND THE DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THAT PROFESSION.
THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO EXPAND THE REGULATION-MAKING POWERS SET DOWN IN THE ORDINANCE.
THIS WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE SETS OF REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE PARA-MEDICAL PROFESSIONS WERE AT AN ADVANCED DRAFTING STAGE, AND WITHOUT SUCH AN AMENDMENT, SOME OF THE PROVISIONS OF THESE REGULATIONS WOULD BE ULTRA VIRÉS.
THE BILL ALSO REQUIRES AT LEAST ONE DIRECTOR OF A COMPANY CARRYING ON A PARA-MEDICAL BUSINESS TO BE PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED TO THE STANDARD REQUIRED TO PRACTISE THAT PROFESSION ON HIS OWN ACCOUNT.
MR CHAU POINTED OUT THAT SUCH A REQUIREMENT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE APPROPRIATE, HAVING REGARD TO A PROPOSAL IN THE REGULATIONS TO BE MADE UNDER THE ORDINANCE THAT A MEMBER OF A PARA-MEDICAL PROFESSION SHOULD BE DEBARRED FROM CARRYING ON THE BUSINESS OF PRACTISING HIS PROFESSION ON HIS OWN ACCOUNT, OR IN A PARTNERSHIP, UNLESS HE HAD THE ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TO QUALIFY HIM FOR REGISTRATION TO SO PRACTISE.
THE OPPORTUNITY HAD ALSO BEEN TAKEN TO MAKE CERTAIN OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ORDINANCE AND, IN PARTICULAR, TO ALIGN SOME OF ITS PROVISIONS TO THOSE IN SIMILAR ORDINANCES, SUCH AS THE DENTISTS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE AND THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION ORDINANCE.
THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO SIMPLIFY THE PROCEDURES FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS ORDINANCE, THE MIDWIVES REGISTRATION ORDINANCE AND THE NURSES REGISTRATION ORDINANCE - HENCE THE TITLE OF THIS BILL, HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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