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The Council will also keep in view new developments in human reproductive technology and advise the Secretary for Health and Welfare on the need for any further regulation; prepare and maintain a non-statutory code of practice which human reproductive technology service providers must comply with as a condition of being allowed to operate; and keep information about donors and persons for whom human reproductive technology procedures are provided in a register. Persons aged 16 and above will be able to access non-identifying information contained in the register.
The spokesman said the Bill would prohibit sex selection through human reproductive technology for non-medical reasons. But its use for medical reasons will be allowed subject to control, he added.
The Bill also prohibits commercial surrogacy and trading in gametes/embryos or fetal ovarian/testicular tissues. The provision of human reproductive technology services to persons who are not married to each other is prohibited, except in circumstances specified in regulations.
The Bill has taken into account views expressed in three public consultation exercises and advice from the Provisional Council on Reproductive Technology, which was established in 1995 to advise the Government on the drafting of legislation and a code of practice.
The Bill will be gazetted on January 3, 1997 and introduced into the Legislative Council on January 15, 1997.
End
Hercules Accident Investigation Report
The Government announced today (Monday) the completion of the investigation into the crash of a Lockheed Hercules aircraft at Kai Tak airport on September 23, 1994 and the publication of the accident investigation report.
The crash, which occurred shortly after take-off, resulted in the death of six crew members out of the total of 12 on board.
The investigation report concludes that the most likely cause of the accident was a malfunction affecting one of the aircraft's four propellers shortly after take-off.