XN000022-1984-01-25 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1984

THE NINE-STOREY COMPLEX WILL HOUSE THE FIVE TRAINING CENTRES FOR THE ELECTRONICS, HOTEL, MACHINE SHOP AND METAL WORKING, PLASTICS AND PRINTING INDUSTRIES.

MANAGERS OF THESE TRAINING CENTRES HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPOINTED AND RECRUITMENT EXERCISES HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO RECRUIT THE NECESSARY INSTRUCTING STAFF, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THERE ARE ALTOGETHER SOME 180 POSTS IN THE CENTRES AND VTC INVITES TECHNICAL PERSONNEL IN INDUSTRY WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PASSING ON THE IR SKILLS TO THE NEW ENTRANTS OF THEIR INDUSTRY TO APPLY FOR THESE POSTS, HE ADDED.

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BILL MAKES IT EASIER TO BE LICENTIATES

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THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 IS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR DOCTORS HOLDING OVERSEAS MEDICAL QUALIFICATIONS TO BECOME LICENTIATES OF THE MEDICAL COUNCIL OF HONG KONG, AND THERE BY TO BE REGISTERED AS MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING SAID TODAY.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE EXPLAINED THAT DOCTORS HOLDING OVERSEAS MEDICAL QUALIFICATIONS, OTHER THAN UNITED KINGDOM, IRISH OR RECOGNISED COMMONWEALTH DIPLOMAS, MUST FIRST BECOME LICENTIATES BEFORE THEY CAN SEEK REGISTRATION AS MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.

AND THEY HAVE TO PASS THE MEDICAL COUNCIL'S EXAMINATIONS AND COMPLETE A PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT TO THE COUNCIL'S SATISFACTION BEFORE BECOMING ELIGIBLE FOR A LICENCE.

+THESE ARRANGEMENTS WILL NOT BE CHANGED, BUT HAVING REGARD TO THE CONTINUING NEED FOR MORE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, THE REMOVAL OF UNNECESSARY CONDITIONS WHICH SERVE TO DISCOURAGE QUALIFIED DOCTORS FROM APPLYING FOR LICENCES WILL GENERALLY BE ACCEPTED AS BEING IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, HE SAID,

THE BILL SEEKS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR SUCH DOCTORS TO BECOME LICENTIATES BY REMOVING THE EXISTING REQUIREMENT FOR APPLICANTS TO HAVE RESIDED CONTINOUSLY IN HONG KONG FOR AT LEAST 180 DAYS, OR TO POSSESS A RIGHT TO LAND IN HONG KONG, BEFORE THEY MAY TAKE PART IN THE EXAMINATIONS.

THE BILL ALSO EMPOWERS THE MEDICAL COUNCIL TO GRANT EXEMPTION FROM ANY OF THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A LICENTIATE SUBJECT TO SUCH CONDITIONS AS THE COUNCIL MAY THINK FIT, HE SAID.

/+IT WILL