XN000022-1985-07-19 — Page 11

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FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1985

AT PRESENT THE THREE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCES REQUIRE THE BOARDS TO HOLD FORMAL INQUIRIES BEFORE ADMITTING ANY APPLICANTS TO THE REGISTER. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WILL PROVIDE THAT INQUIRIES WILL BE REQUIRED ONLY FOR THOSE CASES WHEN THE BOARDS PROPOSE TO DECLINE THE APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION.

THE AMENDED LEGISLATION WILL ALSO REQUIRE THAT AT LEAST ONE DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY WHICH OPERATES ANY SERVICES RELATED TO THE FIVE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS SHOULD BE PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED TO THE STANDARD REQUIRED FOR REGISTRATION TO PRACTISE THE PROFESSION CONCERNED.

IN ADDITION, THE BILL MAKES PROVISIONS FOR VARIOUS AMENDMENTS TO THE MISCELLANEOUS LICENCES ORDINANCE, THE MEDICAL CLINICS ORDINANCE AND THE MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO THE PRACTICE BY PHYSIOTHERAPISTS. THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE INTENDED TO COME INTO OPERATION WHEN REGULATIONS ARE DRAWN UP FOR THE REGISTRATION AND PRACTICE OF PHYSIOTHERAPISTS BY THE STATUTORY BOARD CONCERNED.

THE NEW BILL IS SCHEDULED TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JULY 24, 1985.

MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL PROPOSED

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A BILL TO ENABLE THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL TO CARRY OUT ITS FUNCTIONS WITH GREATER FLEXIBILITY WAS GAZETTED TODAY.

THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985 PROVIDES FOR THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL, MODIFIES THE FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK AND REMOVES REFERENCES TO THE PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE, THUS MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THE COUNCIL OPERATES AS A SINGLE ENTITY.

IT WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JULY 24.

THE BILL STEMS FROM A REVIEW UNDERTAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COUNCIL IN THE LIGHT OF THE MORE ACTIVE APPROACH BEING TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL IN PROVIDING SUPPORT SERVICES TO INDUSTRY, AS RECOMMENDED IN THE REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERS IF ICATION.

IF THE BILL IS PASSED, SAID A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, THE COUNCIL WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUITABLE COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PATENTING OF INVENTIONS DEVELOPED BY IT AND THE RECEIVING OF ROYALTIES, AND TO PARTICIPATE IN JOINT VENTURES.