TNAG-1859-FCO40-2634-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 48

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

18 October 1989 香港立法局————————一九八九年十月十八日

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The amendments in this Bill are necessary because an identity card is no longer merely a proof of identity. It can also be used as a travel document into and out of Hong Kong. This is an incentive for racketeers to obtain identity cards, belonging to others, for deliberate misuse by impersonators or illegal immigrants. It is hoped that this new legislation and the heavy penalties proposed a fine of $20,000 and imprisonment for two years on summary conviction, or a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for 10 years on conviction on indictment will act both as an effective deterrent and as a means of prosecuting those who abuse our identity card system.

Sir, I move that the debate on this motion be adjourned.

Question on the adjournment proposed, put and agreed to.

MEDICAL REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1989

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE moved the Second Reading of: "A Bill to amend the Medical Registration Ordinance."

He said: Sir, I move the Second Reading of the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill 1989.

This Bill seeks to extend the membership of the Licentiate Committee of the Medical Council of Hong Kong to include two registered medical practitioners appointed by the council after consultation with the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The Licentiate Committee of the Medical Council was established under section 20C of the Medical Registration Ordinance to oversee matters relating to the examination, training and licensing of unregistrable medical practitioners. The committee at present comprises eight registered medical practitioners, two of whom are appointed by the council after consultation with the University of Hong Kong.

When the Licentiate Scheme first came into operation in 1977, the University of Hong Kong was the only university in Hong Kong with a Faculty of Medicine. Now that the Chinese University of Hong Kong has established a Faculty of Medicine and is becoming involved in training of externs under the Licentiate Scheme, it is proposed to include representatives of the Chinese University of Hong Kong on the Licentiate Committee. This proposal has the support of the Medical Council of Hong Kong.