XN000022-1980-07-09 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1980

HE SAID IT WAS FELT THE PROCESS BY WHICH REGULATIONS WERE MADE AS STIPULATED IN SECTION 34 OF THE INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES ORDINANCE DID NOT GIVE THE COUNCIL SUFFICIENT TIME TO CONSIDER THE ISSUE AT STAKE.

+1 THEREFORE PROPOSE THAT THIS PRACTICE BE REVIEWED AND THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF EXTENDING THE ONE SITTING REQUIREMENT FOR PASSAGE OF REGULATIONS TO TWO SITTINGS SO THAT REGULATIONS SUCH AS THOSE TO BE MADE UNDER THE PRESENT BILL COULD BE STUDIED THOROUGHLY AND ALLOW FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION, DR HO SAID.

MR WONG SAID THAT FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SECRETARY FOR THE SOCIAL SERVICES, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES AND THE LAW DRAFTSMAN, AGREEMENT WAS REACHED TO MAKE 10 AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL.

SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS ARE

*

TO ENABLE PERSONS, REFERRED TO BY DR FANG AS THE 'GRANDFATHERS' OF THE PARA-MEDICAL PROFESSIONS, TO APPLY FOR A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION RATHER THAN A PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE-

* TO REQUIRE THAT AUTHORISATIONS TO ENTER AND INSPECT PREMISES USED FOR THE PRACTICE OF A PROFESSION MUST BE SIGNED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.

* TO CLARIFY THAT WHERE A COMPANY CARRIES ON THE

BUSINESS OF PRACTISING A PROFESSION, ONLY THE PERSONS PRACTISING THE PROFESSION WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY THE COMPANY NEED TO HOLD A CERTIFICATE. IN OTHER WORDS, THE IR ASSISTANTS NEED NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE ORDINANCE SO LONG AS THEY WORK UNDER THEM-

*

TO STIPULATE THAT A BOARD MAY PREPARE CODES OF PRACTICE COVERING A WIDER GROUND, IN PARTICULAR, THE ACTIVITIES OF REGISTERED PERSONS IN THE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF UNQUALIFIED PERSONS ASSISTING THEM-

* TO ENABLE THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL TO MAKE

REGULATIONS IN RESPECT OF THE LICENSING OF PREMISES AND THE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF TRAINEES, AND

* TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE BILL SHOULD BE IN

ADDITION TO, AND NOT IN DEROGATION FROM, ANY OTHER ORDINANCE THAT REGULATES THE MANNER IN WHICH A PERSON MAY PRACTISE A PROFESSION.

MR WONG BELIEVED THAT, ON THE WHOLE, THE BILL WAS WELL- CONCEIVED.

HOWEVER, HE REMINDED THE GOVERNMENT THAT ONLY ONE SET OF REGULATIONS IN RESPECT OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIFIC OFFICERS, TECHNOLOGISTS AND TECHNICIANS HAVE SO FAR BEEN DRAFTED.

/+WE ATAIT