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FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1988
THE AMENDMENT CAME INTO FORCE IN HONG KONG ON APRIL WHEN PUBLISHED IN A GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY.
1988
THE ORDER PROVIDES FOR THE CREATION OF A NEW ACCOUNTANCY ELECTORAL DIVISION WITHIN AN EXPANDED FINANCE AND ACCOUNTANCY FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY, AND THE CREATION OF A NEW HEALTH CARE ELECTORAL DIVISION WITHIN AN EXPANDED MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY.
UNDER THE ORDER, DENTISTS REGISTERED UNDER THE DENTISTS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE ARE INCLUDED WITHIN AN EXPANDED MEDICAL ELECTORAL DIVISION.
THE ORDER SPECIFIES THAT THE HEALTH CARE ELECTORAL DIVISION INCLUDES NURSES REGISTERED OR ENROLLED UNDER THE NURSES REGISTRATION ORDINANCE, MIDWIVES REGISTERED UNDER THE MIDWIVES REGISTRATION ORDINANCE, AND PHARMACISTS REGISTERED UNDER THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE.
THE FRANCHISE FOR ALL THESE IS BASED ON STATUTORY PROVIDED FOR UNDER THEIR RESPECTIVE GOVERNING ORDINANCES.
REGISTERS
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE FRANCHISE FOR ALL THE PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONS LISTED IN THE ORDER IS BASED ON MEMBERSHIP OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, NOT ON STATUTORY REGISTERS UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS STATED IN ANNEX B TO THE WHITE PAPER.
ORDINANCE AS
"SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE HAD TO BE MADE FOR THIS GROUP SINCE THE STATUTORY REGISTERS TO BE DRAWN UP UNDER SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION TO THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS ORDINANCE ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE IN PL WE UNTIL RARLY 1989.
..
IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ONLY VIABLE ALTERNATIVE WHICH WOULD ALLOW ALL THESE PROFESSIONS TO VOTE IN THE FORTHCOMING LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS IS FOR THE ELECTORATE TO BE DEFINED BY REFERENCE TO THE MEMBERSHIP LISTS OF THE VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS LISTED
IN THE ORDER.
WITH THE VARIOUS THE FRANCHISE WILL
LEGAL EFFECT,
"THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN IN CONTACT ASSOCIATIONS TO OBTAIN UPDATED MEMBERSHIP LISTS. BE AMENDED ONCE THE STATUTORY REGISTERS COME INTO PROBABLY IN EARLY 1989, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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UNDER THE TERMS OF THE FRANCHISE SET OUT IN THE ORDER, ONLY INDIVIDUAL VOTING MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATIONS LISTED WILL BE ENTITLED TO VOTE: THIS WILL EXCLUDE CORPORATE OR COMPANY MEMBERSHIP. ALSO "AFFILIATED" "HONORARY" AND "STUDENT" MEMBERS ARE SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED IN CERTAIN ASSOCIATIONS.
+
IS
"CARE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE FRANCHISE RESTRICTED TO QUALIFIED PRACTISING MEMBERS OF THE VARIOUS PROFESSIONS, THOUGH THIS HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE IN ALL CASES.
**
THE ORDER ALSO PROVIDES A TRANSITIONAL PROVISION TO PRESERVE THE EXISTING FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES UNTIL THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1988, IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT
"Y-ELECTION BEING NECESSARY BEFORE THAT DATE.
OF A
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