TNAG-1449-FCO40-1953-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 20

Sir

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DRAFT SPEECH BY DR HON CHIU HIN KWONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - 30.7.86

Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) Bill 1986

The Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) Bill 1986 is a

timely move to tighten the control of sale of poisons and pharmaceutical products. It is particularly significant at a time when an increasing number of the population, for various

reasons, tend to undertake self-medication for minor health

problems.

To amend the definition of "dispensing" by including dispensing on a prescription made by a registered doctor, dentist or duly qualified veterinary surgeon is to prohibit

listed sellers of poisons from dispensing prescription. The

bill, if endorsed, will plug the loophole of the existing Ordinance and simultaneously will deter people without proper

pharmacological training to dispense.

One of the deficiencies in the present Ordinance is

in its definition of "sell" which does not cover "supply

without payment". The proposed amendment will enlarge the scope to include such area.

Besides other provisions, the bill empowering the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to reject applications for registration is on the right track. It not only enables the Board to use discretion and flexibility in screening

applications but also to disqualify those sellers who have been de-registered owing to committing of offence to re-apply registration under a new name.

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