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As the public interest lies in withholding the production of the report to this Committee, I am Mr Chairman, for the reasons I have given today and previously to this Committee, not prepared to disclose it. In view of the above and as you are aware, the Attorney General has initiated court proceedings seeking a declaration from the court that I may properly withhold production of the ORC report to the Select Committee. Finally, Mr Chairman, I wish to give you my certificate, dated April 21, which sets out my reasons for determining that public interest immunity attaches to the report and that its production is therefore to be withheld.
Thank you Mr Chairman.
End
Report of the Preparatory Committee on Chinese Medicine
In a report to the Government, the Preparatory Committee on Chinese Medicine (PCCM) recommended that a statutory Council on Chinese Medicine be set up to provide for the regulation, promotion and development of Chinese Medicine (CM) in Hong Kong.
The proposed Council on Chinese Medicine, to be composed mainly of representatives of the CM profession and trade, would be supported by a Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board and a Chinese Medicines Board in carrying out its regulatory work.
Introducing the recommendations at a press conference today (Thursday), Chairman of PCCM, Dr Daniel C W Tse said: "The objectives of the proposals are to safeguard public health and consumers' rights by ensuring the professional standard of the CM trade.
"However, a gradual approach in implementation should be adopted to avoid affecting the livelihood of people already in the profession and trade."
Chairman of PCCM's Chinese Medicine Practitioners Sub-committee, Mr Cheung Tai-chiu said: "In the long run, CM practitioners will be required to be registered before they are allowed to practise.
"Those who wish to be registered should pass the universal licensing examination."