FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1985
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LEGISLATIVE CONTROL ON OPTOMETRY NEEDED
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THERE IS A NEED TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATIVE CONTROL TO
PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN A UNIFORM STANDARD OF PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY IN HONG KONG, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING) OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DR PANG KWOK-HUNG, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE LUNCH MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTHEAST. HE SAID THE PURPOSE OF CONTROLLING THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY WAS TO UPGRADE, MAINTAIN, AND PROMOTE THE STANDARD OF THE PROFESSION ACCEPTABLE AND APPROPRIATE TO THE SOCIETY.
THE CONTROL IS ALSO A MECHANISM OF GUIDING THE PROFESSION TO DEVELOP ALONG A RIGHT TRACK FOR THE DIRECT BENEFIT OF ITS PRACTITIONERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
HOWEVER, DR PANG SAID, FOR A CONTROL TO BE EFFECTIVE AND ENFORCEABLE, IT HAD TO BE MADE THROUGH LEGISLATION AND IT ALSO REQUIRED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SYSTEM OF DISCIPLINARY REGULATIONS ON THE CONDUCT OF MEMBERS OF A TRADE.
THE LAW PROVIDES FOR THE SETTING UP OF STATUTORY COUNCILS AND BOARDS FOR ADMINISTERING THE VARIOUS FORMS OF CONTROL.
TO THIS END, AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON OPTOMETRY WAS SET UP BY THE GOVERNMENT IN EARLY 1984 IN ADVANCE OF THE FORMATION OF AN OPTOMETRISTS BOARD, DR PANG SAID,
IT CONSISTS OF MEMBERS WITH DIFFERENT TRAINING BACKGROUNDS
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IN OPTOMETRY, AND REPRESENTATIVES DRAWN FROM DIFFERENT PROFESSIONAL BODIES, THE LOCAL TEACHING INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS CONSIDERED IMPORTANT ISSUES WHICH INCLUDE DEFINING THE TYPE OF OPTICAL WORK AND PROCEDURES WHICH NEED TO BE HANDLED BY A REGISTERED OPTOMETRISTS, AND THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION.
IT HAS ALSO RECOMMENDED FOR PROVISIONS TO BE MADE TO RECOGNISE THOSE WHO ARE NOW IN THE SERVICE AND WHO CAN PROVE THEMSELVES THROUGH SUITABLE MEANS THAT THEY ARE COMPETENT TO PRACTICE.
DR PANG EXPLAINED THAT THE NEED FOR CONTROL ON OPTOMETRY HAD BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT BY A GROWING DEMAND FOR THE PROVISION OF BETTER OPTOMETRICAL SERVICE.
+OPTOMETRISTS OR OPHTHALMIC OPTICIANS HAVE BEEN BECOMING A KEY FIGURE IN THE PREVENTIVE ASPECT BECAUSE THEIR SERVICES ARE WELL IDENTIFIED AND READILY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, HE SAID.
/ACCORDING TO