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The Examination in Professional Knowledge was held on September 17 and 154 candidates turned up. This examination consists of two 3 1/2-hour papers and is designed to test candidates' professional knowledge in the disciplines of basic sciences, medical ethics, community medicine, medicine, psychiatry, paediatrics, surgery, orthopaedic surgery and obstetrics and gynaecology.
Candidates who have passed both parts of the Licensing Examination will be invited to sit the Clinical Examination to be held in early December.
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Further control on halon imports
The Government is to ban the import of portable fire extinguishers from all countries or places with effect from December 2 as a further measure to protect the Earth's ozone layer from depletion.
Arrangements for the ban are spelt out in the Ozone Layer Protection (Products Containing Scheduled Substances) (Import Banning) (Amendment) Regulation.
A government spokesman said today (Thursday) the ban would not affect the availability of portable fire extinguishers because non-halon type extinguishers were widely available at comparable prices as a substitute.
He said since 1993, the Fire Services Department had ceased to impose fire safety requirements based on halon portable fire extinguishers in building plans or licensing/registration conditions.
"Action is also in hand to phase out the existing balon fire extinguishers in all government buildings and public housing estates.
"We envisage the ban will encourage an early switch to more environmentally friendly fire extinguishers," the spokesman said.
Nevertheless, the amendment regulation provides that the Director of Environmental Protection may, in consultation with the Director of Fire Services, exempt halon portable fire extinguishers required for essential applications in emergencies.