XN000022-1974-06-21 — Page 13

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FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1974.

WARNING LETTER PROPOSED AS MINIMUM PUNISHMENT

IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST DOCTORS

******

THE MEDICAL COUNCIL OF HONG KONG HAS SUGGESTED THAT, IN ADDITION TO THE PUNISHMENTS IT IS AT PRESENT EMPOWERED TO METE OUT, THERE SHOULD BE A NEW AND LESSER PUNISHMENT IN THE FORM OF A WARNING LETTER WHICH MAY, OR MAY NOT, BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, AT THE COUNCIL'S DISCRETION.

A BILL EMBODYING THIS PROPOSAL IS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNCIL SAID TODAY THAT, UNDER SECTION 21 OF THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION ORDINANCE, THE MINIMUM PUNISHMENT WHICH THE MEDICAL COUNCIL WAS AT PRESENT EMPOWERED TO METE OUT IN THE EXERCISE OF ITS DISCIPLINARY POVERS WAS A REPRIMAND, AND IT WAS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT THIS DECISION BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE.

+IT IS CONSIDERED THAT ON OCCASIONS A REPRIMAND AND ITS PUBLICATION IN THE GAZETTE IS TOO WEIGHTY A PUNISHMENT, AND IT IS DESIRABLE FOR THE COUNCIL TO HAVE POWERS TO METE OUT A LESSER

· PUNISHMENT,+ HE EXPLAINED.

+ON THE ADVICE OF THE MEDICAL COUNCIL, THE BILL CONSEQUENTLY SEEKS TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO EMPOWER THE COUNCIL, AFTER DUE ENQUIRY, TO ORDER THE ISSUE OF A WARNING LETTER TO THE MEDICAL PRACTITIONER, AND TO EXERCISE ITS DISCRETION REGARDING PUBLICATION IN THE GAZETTE. THE POVER TO ISSUE A REPRIMAND WILL STILL BE RETAINED.+

THE PROPOSAL IS IN LINE WITH THE PROVISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE (PROCEDURED RULES 1970 IN THE UNITED KINGDOM UNDER WHICH THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM MAY ISSUE SIMILAR WARNING LETTERS.

HOLIDAY POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS *******

THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE DELIVERY OF MAIL ON MONDAY (JUNE 24) WHICH IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY,

A NUMBER OF POST OFFICES WILL CLOSE FOR THE DAY, BUT FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE PUBLIC SOME 30 POST OFFICES WILL REMAIN OPEN FROM 9 A.M. TO 12 NOON.

THESE INCLUDE THE GENERAL POST OFFICE IN PEDDER STREET, THE KOWLOON CENTRAL POST OFFICE, THE TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE, AND THE TAIPO, YUEN LONG AND CHEUNG CHAU POST OFFICES, AMONG OTHERS.

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