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WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1992
REGISTRATION OF CHIROPRACTORS PROPOSED
A BILL THAT SEEKS TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGISTRATION OF CHIROPRACTORS SO THAT ONLY THOSE PROPERLY TRAINED WOULD BE ALLOWED PRACTISE IN HONG KONG WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SAID
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE CHIROPRACTORS REGISTRATION BILL, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, DR. S.H. LEE, CHIROPRACTIC WAS AN ALTERNATIVE FORM OF TREATMENT DISTINCT FROM ALLOPATHIC PRACTICE OF WESTERN MEDICINE AND SURGERY.
HE NOTED THAT CHIROPRACTORS HAD BEEN OPERATING IN HONG KONG FOR SOME 20 YEARS AND THAT THERE WERE AT PRESENT 26 OF THEM, ALL TRAINED OVERSEAS.
"IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, IT HAS BEEN OUR POLICY TO PROGRESSIVELY REGISTER KEY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS: TO ENSURE HIGH STANDARD OF SERVICE AND TO ENHANCE THE STATUS OF OUR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, DR LEE STRESSED.
It
"THIS BILL IS PART OF OUR CONTINUING EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE THOSE
OBJECTIVES."
UNDER THE PROPOSED BILL, A CHIROPRACTORS COUNCIL WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REGISTRATION, SETTING OF STANDARDS, REGULATION OF CONDUCT AND ADMINISTRATION OF DISCIPLINE FOR CHIROPRACTORS.
THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE AN EQUAL NUMBER OF CHIROPRACTORS AND NON- CHIROPRACTORS.
DR LEE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD MAINTAINED CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH THE CHIROPRACTIC PROFESSION THROUGH THE HONG KONG CHIROPRACTORS' ASSOCIATION.
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THAT
THE ASSOCIATION SUPPORTED THE BILL BUT EXPRESSED CONCERNS THE PROPOSED CHINESE TITLE FOR CHIROPRACTORS WOULD PLACE THEM IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS "THERAPISTS" OR SUB-PROFESSIONALS.
ON
BE
IT FURTHER CONTENDS THAT AS PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS A PAR WITH PRACTITIONERS OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY, THEY SHOULD ENTITLED TO USE THE TERM "YSANG" AND BE ADDRESSED AS EITHER "JET QUAT SAN GENG FOR YSANG" OR JET YI".
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"WE IN THE ADMINISTRATION RECOGNISE THE PROFESSIONAL STATUS OF CHIROPRACTORS, DR LEE EXPLAINED.
TH
"WE APPRECIATE THEIR ROLE IN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. WE ARE, HOWEVER, CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE MISLED INTO THINKING THAT CHIROPRACTORS ARE QUALIFIED TO PRACTISE MEDICINE AND SURGERY.
"ACCORDINGLY, WE