TNAG-1724-FCO40-2437-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 342

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DRAFT SPEECH BY DR HON HENRIETTA IP, OBE, JP LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 20.1.88

Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill 1987

Resumption of debate on Second Reading (9 December 1987) Question proposed.

IP: Sir,

the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill 1987 before

us will allow the Director of Medical and Health Services to

relinquish his position as Chairman of the Medical Council.

This is, Sir, a right step to reduce government intervention in regulating the Medical profession. However, while speaking in support of the Bill, I am dissatisfied that it has not gone far

enough.

At present, the various governing bodies of different professions, such as the legal, engineering and surveying professions, are composed of members elected amongst their fellow members whereas their counterparts in the Medical Council are all appointed.

This shows the Government's double standards in

allowing different professions to regulate themselves. I strongly urge that this anomaly be eliminated and that the

medical profession be given the autonomy to look after their own affairs. I sincerely hope that the Government would take

heed of this proposal and further review the constitution of

the Medical Council accordingly. Indeed, a recent editorial of

the newsletter published by the Hong Kong Medical Association

has made the same comment and I look forward to the support of Se my colleague, Dr. CHIU Hin-kwong of the Medical Constitutency,

on this point.

In passing, Sir, may I register that I have the same

views on the Dentists Registration (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill

1987, the Nurses Registration (Amendment) Bill 1987, and the

Midwives Registration (Amendment) Bill 1987 as well.

Sir, I support the motion.

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