XN000022-1984-10-10 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1984

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CLEARING WAY FOR DENTAL GRADUATES

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THE DENTISTS REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, DESIGNED

TO GIVE DUE RECOGNITION TO THE FACULTY OF DENTISTRY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, WAS GIVEN A SECOND READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

+FIRST, IT PROVIDES FOR THE DENTAL DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY TO BE ACCEPTABLE AS A QUAL IF ICATION FOR REGISTRATION TO PRACTISE DENTISTRY. THIS IS TIMELY AS THE UNIVERSITY WILL PRODUCE ITS FIRST DENTAL GRADUATES IN JANUARY 1985.

+SECOND, IT PROVIDES FOR A MEMBER OF THE FACULTY OF DENTISTRY TO SIT ON THE DENTAL COUNCIL, AND IT EXTENDS TO DENTISTS ON THE FULL-TIME TEACHING STAFF OF THE FACULTY CERTAIN PRIVILEGES AND EXEMPTIONS ENJOYED BY OTHER DENTISTS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING, EXPLAINED.

THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO LIMIT THE RECOGNITION GIVEN IN HONG KONG TO DENTISTS REGISTERED WITH THE GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

+AT PRESENT, ANY PERSON WHO IS REGISTERED WITH THE GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM IS QUAL IF IED TO BE REGISTERED TO PRACTISE IN HONG KONG.

+AS THE GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL IS NOW OBLIGED TO REGISTER AS DENTISTS NATIONALS OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY COUNTRIES, THESE DENTISTS ARE AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFIED TO BE REGISTERED TO PRACTISE HERE, MR CHING SAID.

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THE BILL SOUGHT TO REMOVE THIS LOOPHOLE, WHILE MAINTAINING THE POSITION IN RESPECT OF DENTISTS WHO HOLD QUALIFICATIONS AWARDED BY EXAMINING BODIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE COMMONWEALTH OR THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, AND GIVING THE HONG KONG DENTAL COUNCIL DISCRETIONARY POWERS TO RECOGNISE OTHER OVERSEAS DENTAL DEGREES, HE SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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