XN000022-1986-10-31 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1986

IT WAS ALSO CONSIDERED THAT THE PRESENT LEVEL OF PENALTIES OF A $50 000 FINE AND FIVE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT FOR OPERATING AN ILLEGAL CLINIC WAS INADEQUATE WHEN DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT RESULT IN INJURY TO A PERSON.

THE PENALTIES FOR PRACTICE OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY BY UNREGISTERED PERSONS (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL.

* AMENDS THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION ORDINANCE SO THAT FRAUDULENT REGISTRATION AS A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER BECOMES AN INDICTABLE OFFENCE AND CARRIES A HIGHER PENALTY OF THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT.

* ALSO AMENDS THE SAME ORDINANCE SO THAT ILLEGAL

PRACTICE IS MADE AN OFFENCE TRIABLE SUMMARILY OR ON INDICTMENT.

*

AMENDS THE MEDICAL CLINICS ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE OFFENCES OF MANAGING OR PRACTISING MEDICINE IN AN UNREGISTERED CLINIC TO PROCEED BY INDICTMENT. IT ALSO CREATES AN ADDITIONAL INDICTABLE OFFENCE WHERE THE TREATMENT GIVEN RESULTS IN INJURY.

IN BOTH CASES WHERE ILLEGAL PRACTICE OF MEDICINE RESULTS IN INJURY TO PERSONS TREATED, THE OFFENCE IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A FINE OF $100 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE YEARS ON SUMMARY CONVICTION AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SEVEN YEARS ON CONVICTION UPON IND ICTMENT.

THE BILL ALSO AMENDS THE DENTISTS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE ALONG SIMILAR LINES.

THE ANTIBIOTICS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 SEEKS TO AMEND THE ANTIBIOTICS ORDINANCE BY INCREASING THE PENALTIES FOR UNLAWFUL SALE AND POSSESSION OF ANTIBIOTICS TO BRING IT IN LINE WITH THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE. IT ALSO EXTENDS THE TIME LIMIT FOR SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS TO BE COMMENCED FROM SIX TO 12 MONTHS, TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR INVESTIGATION AND TO INSTITUTE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS,

THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THE OFFENCE OF ILLEGAL PRACTICE OF MEDICINE WILL NOT APPLY TO THE PRACTICE OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE NOR TO LEGITIMATE PRACTICES BY REGISTERED PHARMACISTS PHYSIOTHERAPISTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS,

OPTOMETRISTS, MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS OR RADIOGRAPHERS, OR TO FIRST AID TREATMENT.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE BILL WILL NEITHER AFFECT CHINESE DOCTORS TRAINED IN WESTERN MEDICINE AS THEY WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY OPPORTUNITIES TO QUALIFY TO PRACTICE IN HONG KONG UNDER THE LICENTIATE SCHEME.

VIEWS ON PROVISIONS OF THE BILLS CAN BE SENT TO THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT SEVENTH FLOOR, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, OR TO OMELCO AT 8 JACKSON ROAD, CENTRAL.

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