XN000022-1976-11-24 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976

PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT FOR UNREGISTRABLE DOCTORS

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THE PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT, WHICH AN UNREGISTRABLE DOCTOR HAS TO GO THROUGH TO OBTAIN A LICENCE TO PRACTISE IN HONG KONG AFTER PASSING AN EXAMINATION, SHOULD BE PRESCRIBED, DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS COMMENTING ON THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 WHICH PROVIDES FOR A PERSON WISHING TO BE ELIGIBLE TO BECOME A LICENTIATE TO SERVE IN AN APPROVED HOSPITAL OR INSTITUTION A PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT TO BE DETERMINED BY THE MEDICAL COUNCIL.

+THIS PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT, HE ADDED, MAY BE LIKENED TO THE PERIOD OF INTERNSHIP WHICH MEDICAL GRADUATES OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY ARE REQUIRED TO SERVE EXCEPT THAT THE LATTER IS CLEARLY PRESCRIBED BY REGULATION,+

DR. FANG SAID THAT HE AND HIS UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES CONSIDERED IT ONLY FAIR THAT THE PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT FOR PROSPECTIVE LICENTIATES SHOULD LIKEWISE BE PRESCRIBED.

*WITHOUT SUCH PROVISION,

HE SAID, +A CANDIDATE WILL HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA AS TO THE NORMAL PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT WHICH HE WILL BE REQUIRED TO SERVE.+

IN WELCOMING THE BILL, DR. FANG SAID THAT IT GAVE PERSONS WITH MEDICAL TRAINING WHO WERE NOT AT PRESENT ELIGIBLE TO BE REGISTERED AS MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE EXAMINATION AND SERVE A PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT WHICH WOULD LEAD TO THE GRANT OF A LICENCE BY THE MEDICAL COUNCIL TO PRACTISE IN HONG KONG,

IN ADDITION, HE CONTINUED, IT SHOULD HELP EASE THE PRESENT SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS IN HONG KONG PARTICULARLY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

REGARDING THE POSITION OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF UNREGISTRABLE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS WHO HAVE BEEN, AND STILL ARE, PERMITTED TO PRACTISE MEDICINE IN VARIOUS MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS, DR. FANG SAID:

MANY OF THESE PRACTITIONERS HAVE IN FACT BEEN SO EMPLOYED FOR MANY YEARS.+

HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE LICENTIATE COMMITTEE WOULD LOOK FAVOURABLY UPON APPLICATIONS FROM THEM FOR A REDUCTION OF THE PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT WHERE APPROPRIATE.

DR. FANG ASKED FOR AN ASSURANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAT THERE WOULD BE NO UNDUE DELAY IN FINALISING THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FIRST SERIES OF EXAMINATIONS FOR UNREGISTRABLE DOCTORS ONCE THE BILL BECAME LAW.