XN000022-1993-02-03 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1993

OVER 1,200 PROSECUTIONS AGAINST TAXI DRIVERS IN 1992

A TOTAL OF 1,295 PROSECUTIONS HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED TAXI DRIVERS FOR MALPRACTICES IN 1992.

AGAINST

MICHAEL

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR LEUNG, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MIRIAM LAU IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

FOR 1991 AND 1990, THE NUMBERS OF PROSECUTIONS BY WAY OF FIXED PENALTY TICKETS ISSUED WERE 188 AND 196 AND THAT BY SUMMONS AND ARRESTS WERE 678 AND 585 RESPECTIVELY.

MR LEUNG SAID

ACCORDING TO PROVISIONAL FIGURES FOR 1992, THE NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS BY FIXED PENALTY TICKETS WAS 426 AND THAT BY SUMMONS AND ARRESTS TOTALLED 869.

THE AVERAGE CONVICTION RATE WAS 66.7 PER CENT AND THE AVERAGE FINE WAS $450.

OFFENCES,

FAILING TO DRIVE

ΤΟ

THE MAIN OFFENCES WERE REFUSING HIRE, TAXIMETER STOPPING ELSEWHERE THAN AT TAXI STAND AND DESTINATION BY THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE.

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CARE FOR PATIENTS NOT JUST A MATTER OF LAW

THE QUESTION OF TREATMENT OF A PATIENT IS A MATTER FOR CLINICAL JUDGEMENT, INVOLVING MEDICAL ETHICS, AND NOT JUST LAW.

WELFARE,

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND

MRS ELIZABETH WONG, WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON LEONG CHE- HUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MRS WONG SAID PRIVATE HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WERE REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED WITH THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND MUST SATISFY HIM AS TO THE FITNESS OF STAFF, ACCOMMODATION, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES APPROPRIATE TO THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THEY WERE SET UP UNDER THE HOSPITAL, NURSING HOMES AND MATERNITY HOMES REGISTRATION ORDINANCE.

"THE TYPE OF SERVICES OFFERED BY PRIVATE HOSPITALS AND CLINICS MUST THEREFORE BE IN KEEPING WITH THEIR REGISTRATION, SHE SAID.

APART FROM THE LAW, MRS WONG CONTINUED, DOCTORS WERE THEMSELVES GOVERNED BY THE PROFESSIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE ISSUED BY THE MEDICAL COUNCIL OF HONG KONG,

THE INTERNATIONAL CODE OF MEDICAL ETHICS ALSO REQUIRES EVERY MEDICAL PRACTITIONER TO ALWAYS BEAR IN MIND THE OBLIGATION OF PRESERVING HUMAN LIFE AND CALLS UPON HIM TO GIVE EMERGENCY CARE AS A HUMANITARIAN DUTY UNLESS HE IS ASSURED THAT OTHERS ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO GIVE SUCH CARE, SHE ADDED.

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