XN000022-1985-07-19 — Page 10

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ON

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1985

BUT, HE SAID, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS MEASURE HAD BEEN ERODED BY THE PASSAGE OF TIME, AND THE LIMIT THEREFORE NEEDED TO BE INCREASED.

THE BILL WILL RECEIVE ITS FIRST READING ON JULY 24. PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, AT ADMIRALTY CENTRE, TOWER 11, 24TH FLOOR, HARCOURT ROAD, HONG KONG.

MOVE TO CONTROL OPTOMETRY *****

LEGISLATIVE CONTROL ON THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY IN HONG KONG WILL SHORTLY BE INTRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS ONE OF THE PROVISIONS OF A NEW BILL - THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS, MIDWIVES REGISTRATION AND NURSES REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985 - WHICH IS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY) FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION,

UNDER THE BILL, OPTOMETRISTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO REGISTER BEFORE THEY CAN PRACTISE IN HONG KONG. THIS MEANS THAT A PERSON WHO IS TRAINED IN THE PRACTICE OF TESTING VISION, PRESCRIBING OPTICAL APPLIANCES, FITTING OPTICAL APPLIANCES OR SUPPLYING OPTICAL APPLIANCES ON PRESCRIPTION HAS TO BE REGISTERED.

THE OPTOMETRY PROFESSION WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE SCHEDULE OF THE PRINCIPAL SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS ORDINANCE,

AT PRESENT THERE ARE FOUR PROFESSIONS LISTED IN THE SCHEDULE: MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS, RADIOGRAPHERS, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS WHO ARE GOVERNED SEPARATELY BY FOUR STATUTORY BOARDS SET UP TO PROMOTE ADEQUATE STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AMONG MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSIONS AND TO CARRY OUT THE FUNCTIONS ASSIGNED TO THEM UNDER THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE.

IF THE BILL IS PASSED, A STATUTORY BOARD WILL ALSO BE SET UP FOR OPTOMETRISTS.

ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS IN THE BILL PROVIDES THAT IN CONDUCTING DISCIPLINARY INQUIRIES, THE BOARDS WILL BE EMPOWERED TO DETERMINE WHETHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OR THE PRESS SHOULD BE ADMITTED OR NOT.

ANOTHER PROVISION WILL SIMPLIFY THE PROCEDURES FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS ORDINANCE, THE MIDWIVES REGISTRATION ORDINANCE AND THE NURSES REGISTRATION ORDINANCE.

/AT PRESENT

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