XN000022-1983-10-12 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1983

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IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 1982-83, 94 PER CENT OF THE STUDENTS SITTING THE FIRST BACHELOR OF DENTAL SURGERY DEGREE EXAMINATION AND 97 PER CENT OF THE CLASS SITTING THE SECOND DEGREE EXAMINATION PASSED AT THE FIRST ATTEMPT.

SUCH RESULTS CLEARLY EXEMPLIFIES THE ABILITY AND THE COMMITMENT OF THE DENTAL STUDENTS TO THEIR STUDIES - A FACT WHICH HAD RECEIVED THE COMMENDATION OF SEVERAL EXTERNAL EXAMINERS, SHE POINTED OUT.

+ IT HAS THEREFORE BEEN PARTICULARLY DISTRESSING TO BOTH THE FACULTY AND THE STUDENTS THAT MOVES WERE MADE ON THE PART OF CERTAIN PEOPLE TO PETITION THE GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM TO WITHHOLD RECOGNITION AND REGISTRATION OF THE GRADUATES HOLDING THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF DENTAL SURGERY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.

+SUCH MOVES, PROMPTED BY MATTERS OVER WHICH THE STUDENTS HAD NO CONTROL WHATSOEVER, COULD HAVE JEOPARDISED THE FUTURE PROFESSIONAL CAREERS OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND WERE MANIFESTLY UNFAIR TO BOTH THE STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHERS.

+! AM, THEREFORE, HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM IS TAKING NO ACTION ON THIS PETITION,+ MISS DUNN SAID.

SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR FUND BOARD

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THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND BOARD HAS ACHIEVED CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS IN ITS SECOND YEAR OF OPERATION DESPITE THE SLOW-DOWN IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON RON BRIDGE, STATED THIS WHEN HE TABLED THE BOARD'S 1982 ANNUAL REPORT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IN 1982 THE BOARD COLLECTED $21 MILLION IN LEVY FROM THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SIX TIMES MORE THAN IN 1981.

LAST YEAR, COMPENSATION PAYMENTS FROM THE PNEUMOCONTOS IS COMPENSATION FUND AMOUNTED TO $22 MILLION, THREE TIMES THE FIGURE FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

WITH MORE CLAIMS, THE BOARD WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A SURPLUS AS FORECAST IN ITS PREVIOUS REPORT.

HOWEVER, IT WAS EXPECTED THAT WITH THE CASELOAD STABLISING

AT THE PRESENT LEVEL AND A CONTINUING INCREASE IN LEVY

INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION WORK, THE BOARD SHOULD BE ABLE TO BALANCE ITS INCOME AND EXPENDITURE DURING THE COMING YEAR.

MR BRIDGE SAID THAT THE AMENDMENT ORDINACE WHICH IMPOSES

A PENALTY FOR LATE PAYMENT OF LEVY AND RAISES THE LEVEL OF FINES FOR SOME OFFENCES UNDER THE MAIN ORDINANCE HAD PUT THE BOARD INTO A MUCH STRONGER POSITION TO DISCHARGE ITS STATUTORY DUTIES.

HE THANKED THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FOR ITS ACHIEVEMENTS.

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