XN000022-1994-11-08 — Page 5

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1994

REPORT OF WORKING PARTY ON CHINESE MEDICINE PUBLISHED

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REPORT

THE WORKING PARTY ON CHINESE MEDICINE PUBLISHED ITS TODAY (TUESDAY) AFTER THE REPORT HAD BEEN ENDORSED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN- COUNCIL.

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO RELEASE THE REPORT, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS KATHERINE FOK, STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT RESPECTED THE LONG HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM) AND THE UNIQUE ROLE IT HAD PLAYED IN HONG KONG IN HEALTH MAINTENANCE.

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"WE RECOGNISE THE CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE OF DRAWING ON THE STRENGTH TCM AND INVOLVING THE PROFESSION CLOSELY IN ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, SHE SAID.

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MRS FOK POINTED OUT THAT RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE REPORT WERE BASED ON THE SPIRIT OF SELF-REGULATION AND HAD BEEN FORMULATED FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH THE PROFESSION AND THE PUBLIC.

MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING PARTY INCLUDE SETTING UP A PREPARATORY COMMITTEE TO STEER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS; THE EVENTUAL REGISTRATION OF THE TCM PRACTITIONERS; REGULATING THE SALE OF POTENT HERBS AND TRAINING DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PROFESSION.

MRS FOK POINTED OUT THAT THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE PROPOSED BY THE WORKING PARTY WOULD CONSIST PRINCIPALLY OF MEMBERS OF THE TCM PROFESSION BUT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE LAY MEMBERS. THE SECRETARIAT WOULD BE SERVICED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

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"IT WILL ADVISE ON LEGISLATION PROVIDING A STATUTORY FRAMEWORK THE PROMOTION, DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATION OF TCM IN HONG KONG. PREPARATORY COMMITTEE WILL BE DISBANDED WHEN THE LEGISLATION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STATUTORY BODY COMES INTO FORCE, SHE SAID.

DURING THE CONSULTATION PERIOD, THE WORKING PARTY NOTED THAT MANY DIFFERENT VIEWS HAD BEEN EXPRESSED ON THE SPECIFIC CRITERIA FOR EVENTUAL REGISTRATION OF TCM PRACTITIONERS. THE WORKING PARTY RECOMMENDED THAT THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE SHOULD ESTABLISH CRITERIA AND PROCEDURE FOR THE EVENTUAL REGISTRATION OF TCM PRACTITIONERS.

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IN OUR VIEW, REGISTRATION WILL HELP ENHANCE THE STATUS OF TCM PRACTITIONERS, REASSURE PATIENTS OF THE STANDARDS OF THE PRACTITIONERS AND INCREASE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE PROFESSION,' SHE SAID.

HOWEVER, MRS FOK POINTED OUT THAT GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PRACTITIONERS AND THEIR DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, IT WAS IMPORTANT ADOPT A STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH.

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ON POTENT HERBS, THE WORKING PARTY RECOMMENDED THAT CONSULTATION WITH THE PROFESSION, A "POTENT HERBS LIST" SHOULD BE DRAWN UP EARLY FOR PUBLIC REFERENCE.

/IN DUE