XN000022-1974-07-17 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1974

+ IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE COMPANY PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS WHICH FORM THE BASIS OF THIS MOTION AND WHICH HAVE RECEIVED THE SUPPORT OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.+

MR. HADDON-CAVE FELT THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS IN THE COMPANY'S SERVICES WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF MODERN VESSELS. PASSENGERS HAVE BENEFITED CONSIDERABLY FROM FASTER SERVICES AND THE ADDED COMFORT OF THE DE LUXE CLASS ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE ON SOME SERVICES, HE NOTED.

THE COMPANY HAD ALSO ATTEMPTED TO IMPROVE THE CLEANLINESS OF ITS FERRIES AND INTENDS TO CONTINUE TO DO SO.

WIDER DISCIPLINARY POWERS FOR MEDICAL COUNCIL ******

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THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION CAMENDMENT) BILL 1974, WHICH WIDENS THE DISCIPLINARY POWERS OF THE MEDICAL COUNCIL, PASSED ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN HIS MAIDEN SPEECH IN COUNCIL OR. THE HON. HARRY FANG EXPRESSED WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT FOR THE BILL SAYING THAT IT WOULD GIVE THE MEDICAL COUNCIL THE NECESSARY LEEWAY AND DISCRETIONARY POWERS.

DR. FANG NOTED THAT THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE HAD CAUSED A GREAT DEAL OF EMBARRASSMENT, DECEPTION AND UNNECESSARY DISGRACE TO CERTAIN MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.

+THESE PRACTITIONERS HAVE, IT IS TRUE, BEEN GUILTY OF INFRINGEMENTS OF THE LAW BUT THEIR OFFENCES HAVE BEEN OF A MINOR NATURE.

+IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, THE INFRINGEMENTS DO NOT WARRANT A PUBLIC DENOUNCEMENT OF THEIR ACTIONS BY USING THE DISCREDITABLE WORDS 'PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT' OR 'UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT',+ HE SAID. +THIS CAN BE MOST MISLEADING IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC AND MOST DAMAGING TO THE INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED.+

UNDER THE NEW PROVISIONS, THE MEDICAL COUNCIL WILL HAVE DISCRETION TO ISSUE WARNING LETTERS AND TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT ANY PARTICULAR WARNING LETTER SHOULD BE NOTIFIED IN THE GAZETTE.

PREVIOUSLY, ANY ORDER MADE BY THE COUNCIL COULD BE SUSPENDED BUT WHATEVER DECISION WAS ARRIVED AT HAD TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE.

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