XN000022-1975-10-24 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1975

THE REPORT RECOMMENDED THAT NO CANDIDATES SHOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM THE EXAMINATION. THE WORKING PARTY CONSIDERED THE POSITION OF UNREGISTRABLE DOCTORS NOW WORKING IN THE GOVERNMENT MEDICAL SERVICE, IN THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG AND IN REGISTERED CLINICS, AND CONCLUDED THAT WHILST SUCH EXPERIENCE WOULD BE RELEVANT AND USEFUL TO THOSE TAKING THE EXAMINATION IT SHOULD NOT EXEMPT THEM FROM THE NEED TO DO SO.

THE PROPOSED EXAMINATION, THE REPORT SAID, SHOULD BE SO DESIGNED THAT IT SHOULD PRESENT NO PARTICULAR PROBLEMS FOR ADEQUATELY TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED CANDIDATES INCLUDING THOSE FOR WHOM TEXTBOOK STUDY MIGHT NO LONGER BE EASY. MAINTENANCE OF STANDARDS MUST BE PARAMOUNT, THE WORKING PARTY

AS THE CONSIDERED THAT ANY PERSON WHO COULD NOT OR DID NOT SUCCESSFULLY TAKE THE PROPOSED EXAMINATION SHOULD NOT BE GRANTED THE LICENTIATE.

AS REGARDS EXTERNSHIP, HOWEVER, THE REPORT NOTED THAT THE MEDICAL COUNCIL WOULD HAVE DISCRETION TO EXEMPT ANY CANDIDATE WHO HAS BEEN SERVING IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG FROM ALL OR PART OF THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD OF EXTERNSHIP AFTER CONSIDERING THE POSTS THE INDIVIDUAL HAD FILLED AND HIS OVERALL PROVEN COMPETENCY.

MORE GENERALLY THE REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT THE MEDICAL COUNCIL HAVE AUTHORITY TO REDUCE THE PERIOD PRESCRIBED FOR EXTERNSHIP IN INDIVIDUAL CASES.

THE REPORT FURTHER INDICATES THAT THOSE UNREGISTRABLE DOCTORS PRESENTLY PRACTISING IN THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OR IN THE CLINICS SHOULD NOT BE PREVENTED FROM CONTINUING WITH THEIR PRESENT EMPLOYMENT, EVEN IF THEY SHOULD ATTEMPT THE EXAMINATION AND FAIL.

IT IS HOPED TO HOLD THE FIRST EXAMINATION IN 1976 AND THE PREPARATORY WORK, INCLUDING THE DRAFTING OF LEGISLATION, IS BEING CARRIED OUT WITH ALL POSSIBLE SPEED.

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