XN000022-1984-01-20 — Page 7

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 1984

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THE RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JANUARY 25 AND IS EXPECTED TO COMPLETE ITS LEGISLATIVE STAGES ON FEBRUARY 15.

ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON ITS PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION, AT HENNESSY CENTRE, 500 HENNESSY ROAD, HONG KONG,

BILL TO FACILITATE REGISTRATION OF DOCTORS

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THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO AMEND THE LAW TO FACILITATE THE REGISTRATION, THROUGH THE LICENTIATE SCHEME, OF DOCTORS WHOSE QUALIFICATIONS CANNOT BE AUTOMATICALLY RECOGNISED FOR PRACTICE IN HONG KONG.

UNDER THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 PUBLISHED TODAY, THE MEDICAL COUNCIL OF HONG KONG WILL BE ABLE TO ADOPT A MORE FLEXIBLE APPROACH IN THE LICENTIATE SCHEME BY VIRTUE OF ITS POWER TO GRANT EXEMPTION TO ANY PERSON FROM ANY OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A LICENTIATE.

THE BILL ALSO REMOVES THE RESIDENTIAL QUAL IF ICATION FOR PERSONS TAKING PART IN THE LICENTIATE EXAMINATION.

THE COMBINED EFFECT OF THESE PROVISIONS IS THAT DOCTORS SEEKING REGISTRATION THROUGH THE LICENTIATE SCHEME WILL BE ABLE TO DO SO WITHOUT HAVING FIRST RESIDED IN HONG KONG FOR A CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF AT LEAST 180 DAYS OR HAVING THE RIGHT TO LAND IN HONG KONG.

SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATE CONDITIONS THEY MAY ALSO BE EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN PARTS OF THE LICENTIATE EXAMINATION AND FROM THE PERIOD OF PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE BILL WOULD BE IN THE INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC IN VIEW OF THE PRESENT DEMAND FOR DOCTORS.

HE EMPHASISED THAT THE MEDICAL COUNCIL WOULD CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT REASONABLE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS WOULD BE MAINTAINED AND THAT DOCTORS IN POSSESSION OF APPROPRIATE PROFESSIONAL QUAL IF ICATIONS WOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO COME TO PRACTISE IN HONG KONG.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT AUTOMATIC RECOGNITION OF MEDICAL QUAL IF ICATIONS FOR PRACTICE IN HONG KONG HAD IN THE PAST BEEN CONFINED TO THOSE QUALIFICATIONS OBTAINED IN HONG KONG, THE UNITED KINGDOM, IRELAND AND CERTAIN COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES.

THIS POSITION