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Medical Registration (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 1995

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, in resuming the second reading debate of the Medical Registration (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 1995 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

I should like to thank the Chairman and Members of the Bills Committee for their careful scrutiny of the provisions in the Bill.

The Bill, if passed by this Council, will lead to four major changes. First, the Medical Council will have an expanded membership to broaden its representation and to help the sharing out of the increasing workload. The addition of 14 members to the Council will bring the total number of members to 28. Of the 28, 14 will be elected - seven to be elected from all registered medical practitioners on the general register and the remaining seven to be elected by the Council members of the Hong Kong Medical Association. The introduction of elected members into the Medical Council will encourage greater involvement of the profession in its own affairs.

Secondly, the provisions regarding the introduction of a specialist register pave the way for the formal registration and control of medical specialists.

Thirdly, apart from the existing Licentiate Committee and the Preliminary Investigation Committee, three more statutory committees (namely the Health Committee, the Education and Accreditation Committee and the Ethics Committee) will be established to look after other important aspects of the Council's work.

Lastly, the Medical Council and its Health Committee will be able to prohibit the disclosure of information relating to an inquiry by the Council or a hearing by the Health Committee, if it is in the interests of the complainant, defendant or witness. In addition, for the protection of the public, the Medical Council's disciplinary order will take effect on publication in the gazette.

With these remarks Mr President, I commend the Bill to Members.

End