XN000022-1988-11-09 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1988

BE

PRACTISED

'WHILST ALLOWING CHINESE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE TO WITHOUT QUALIFICATIONS, ARE WE REALLY ALLOWING THEM SPECIAL PRIVILEGES OR ARE WE IN FACT UNDERMINING THE PROFESSIONALISM

THAT ART, AND OVERSHADOWING THE EXPERTS WITH THE QUACKS?" SHE ASKED.

OF

DR IF POINTED OUT THAT CHINESE TRADITIONAL MEDICAL PRACTICE HAD MADE SIGNIFICANT ADVANCEMENTS SINCE 1957.

FOR EXAMPLE, MAJOR ADVANCEMENT IN ACUPUNCTURE NOW INCLUDED THE APPLICATION OF INJECTION, ELECTRICAL STIMULATION AS WELL AS LASER USE.

"IN FACT, THE PRACTICE HAD NOW ADVANCED TO A DEGREE THAT IT HAD "BECOME DANGEROUS IN UNTRAINED HANDS".

"1F GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO KEEP 1TS ARCHAIC LEGISLATION BUT RESTRICT THE PRACTICE OF CHINESE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE то THAT AS PRACTISED IN 1957, THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT BE SEEN TO BE ACTING AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHINESE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE, DR IP SAID,

་་

"TO BELIEVE THAT CHINESE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE CAN HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE HUMAN BODY AND THEREBY CURE IT OF DISEASE, ONE MUST ALSO ACCEPT THAT WHEN GIVEN BY THE WRONG HANDS, IT CAN ALSO MAIM AND KILL."

+

NOTING THAT SHE HAD TRIED IN VAIN

ΤΟ CONVINCE THE ADMINISTRATION THROUGH DIFFERENT CHANNELS TO LOOK INTO THE PRACTICE OF CHINESE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE, DR IP APPEALED TO THE GOVERNMENT ΤΟ INCLUDE THE ISSUE AS A SUBJECT FOR STUDY BY THE PROPOSED CENTRAL POLICY UNIT.

FAILING THAT, SHE SUGGESTED THAT A COMMITTEE SHOULD BE SET UP TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE.

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY

TILUS COMMITTEE COULD DETERMINE WHETHER LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS WERE NECESSARY AND WHETHER QUALIFICATIONS, REGISTRATION AND LICENSING SHOULD BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO PRACTICE, AS WELL AS ASSESSING THE IMPLICATIONS AND FEASIBILITY OF SUCH MOVES.

MANY

·

ON THE PROMOTION OF PHYSICAL RECREATION DR IP SAID THAT TOO PEOPLE IN HONG KONG SUFFERED FROM TENSION HEADACHES, GASTROINTESTINAL DISTURBANCE,

INSOMNIA, OBESITY, LISTLESSNESS, BACK ACHES, NECK ACHES AND FATIGUE.

SHE MAINTAINED THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL RECREATION ΤΟ HEALTH NEEDED TO BE "ADVERTISED AND PREACHED", JUST LIKE THE ANNUAL MILLION DOLLAR ANTI-SMOKING CAMPAIGN.

TO

DR IP SAID SHE HOPED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ATTACH IMPORTANCE THE REPORT ON PHYSICAL RECREATION AND HEALTH WHICH WOULD SOON BE RELEASED BY A SUB-COMMITTEE WHICH SHE CHAIRED UNDER THE AUSPICES THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORTS.

OF

THE REPORT