XN000022-1996-05-15 — Page 17

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Veterinary Surgeons Registration Bill

Following is the speech by the acting Secretary for Economic Services, Mr Leo Kwan, in moving the second reading of the Veterinary Surgeons Registration Bill in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

Kong.

I move that the Veterinary Surgeons Registration Bill be read a second time.

The purpose of the Bill is to regulate the practice of veterinary surgery in Hong

At present, the practice of veterinary surgery in Hong Kong is not subject to statutory regulation. However, a person who wishes to practise veterinary surgery in Hong Kong has to be a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons before he can obtain and use the antibiotics, poisons and other controlled drugs used in the profession. Despite these provisions, it is believed that there are some unqualified persons practising as veterinary surgeons in Hong Kong and that the treatment administered by such persons often causes undue suffering to animals.

The professional conduct of members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons practising in Hong Kong is subject to disciplinary control by the Royal College, but the college has practical difficulties in intervening effectively from the United Kingdom in professional disputes involving the practice of veterinary surgery in Hong Kong.

It is proposed to address these problems through the establishment of a locally- based statutory regime of registration, disciplinary control and professional standards for veterinary surgeons.

The Bill provides for the setting up of a Veterinary Surgeons Board whose main functions will be to establish and maintain a register of registered veterinary surgeons; to set the qualification standards for registration as a veterinary surgeon; to receive, examine, accept or reject applications for registration; and to make rules for the professional conduct and discipline of registered veterinary surgeons and deal with disciplinary offences.

The Bill provides that the Board should consist of 10 persons to be appointed by the Secretary for Economic Services. Of these, one person will be the Chairman, six persons will be veterinary surgeons and three will be medical practitioners or pharmacists or representatives of the interests of the persons who utilise veterinary services.