XN000022-1989-01-11 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1989

SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS AMENDMENT BILL RE-SUBMITTED

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THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

1989

THE

IT CONTAINS MAINLY ENABLING PROVISIONS TO FACILITATE MAKING OF REGULATIONS BY THE FIVE PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONAL BOARDS SET UP UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS ORDINANCE WHICH WAS ENACTED IN 1980.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIVE PROFESSIONAL BOARDS OF THE PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONS

MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGISTS, RADIOGRAPHERS, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND OPTOMETRISTS

WOULD BE GIVEN POWER TO HOLD EXAMINATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF FULL REGISTRATION AND PROVISIONAL REGISTRATION.

TT —

IN

BE

THE BILL IS THE SAME AS THE ONE INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL JULY LAST YEAR BUT WHICH LAPSED BECAUSE ITS PASSAGE COULD NOT COMPLETED BEFORE DISSOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL AT THE END OF ITS 1987-88 SESSION.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE NEW BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON T.H. CHAU, EXPLAINED THAT A LEGCO AD HOC GROUP HAD BEEN SET UP TO CONSIDER THE BILL WHICH HAD BREN INTRODUCED LAST YEAR.

'WITH REGARD TO CLAUSE 8(2) OF THE BILL, WHICH PROPOSED TO AMEND SECTION 26 OF THE ORDINANCE BY REQUIRING ALL CODES OF PRACTICE AND AMENDMENTS TO THEM TO BE NOTIFIED BY THE PARAMEDICAL BOARDS TO THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS COUNCIL, THE AD HOC GROUP WAS OF THE VIEW THAT THE BILL DID NOT ADEQUATELY PROVIDE FOR A SMOOTH WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE BOARDS," MR CHAU SAID.

IN RFSPONSE, THE ADMINISTRATION UNDERTOOK TO CONSULT THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS COUNCIL AND THE BOARDS ON THE MATTER, BUT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE CONSULTATIONS TO CARRIED OUT BEFORE DISSOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR CHAU SAID THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS HAD BEEN CONSULTED ON THE POINT IN QUESTION IN NOVEMBER.

BE

COUNCIL

"IT DID NOT CONSIDER IT NECESSARY, AT THIS STAGE, ΤΟ SEEK AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL IN RESPECT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE BOARDS, HE SAID. IT HAD RECOMMENDED THAT THE BILL BE RE-SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MMR CHAU

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