676009-1883-Papers-respecting-the-Medical-Bill- — Page 4

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 9TH JUNE, 1883,

I must decline to sign this Petition for the following reasons:

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1stly. The introduction of the British Medical Acts would operate very unfairly against Medical men who have had no opportunity of obtaining the legal qualifications required by the Acts.

2ndly. No proper Medical Council could be formed in the Colony to supervise the working of these Acts, and to take care that they would be carried out fairly and without prejudice. This body is the great protection to medical men in England.

3rdly.-I am of opinion that the introduction of these Acts cannot be shewn to be necessary to the protection of the public in this Colony.

Hongkong, April 21st, 1882.

J. C. FISHER, M.D.

Report by the Attorney General.

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May 5th, 1882.

1. The petition is not quite accurate as to the present state of the law. The Imperial Act, 21 and 22 Vic., Cap. 90, applies in this Colony, and every person registered under it is entitled according to his qualification to practise medicine and surgery in this Colony and to sue for his charges.

2. What I understand the petitioners to desire is that a Register may be established in this Colony upon which should be entered the names of all persons entitled to practise medicine and surgery in the Colony.

3. The Register to comprise:---

(a.) All persons in the Colony now entitled to practise in the Colony under the Imperial Act

21 and 22 Vic., Cap. 90.

(b.) All persons in the Colony who have been registered in any other British Colony. (e.) All persons in the Colony who hold a diploma, licence, or certificate, granted in any uni- versity or college or faculty after and in consequence of their having passed through a course of study and examination as thorough and sufficient as the minimum course in any like case approved by the Privy Council under section 21 of the Imperial Act, 21 and 22 Victoria. Cap. 90, upon proper proof.

4. And that by law :-

1. No person should be entitled to recover his charges for medical or surgical attendance

unless registered.

2. Any person not registered who falsely takes any title implying a qualification to practise

medicine or surgery shall be punishable.

5. The law to be administered by a medical Council which would examine into the sufficiency of diplomas, licence, &c., above mentioned ( par. 3 (c) ) subject to appeal to Governor in Council.

6. I apprehend that there is quite sufficient material for the composition of the necessary Council. It would be easy to provide by a short clause that the enactment should not interfere with the practise of medicine and surgery by Chinese amongst Chinese, and I do not see that there is any legal objection to giving effect to the wishes of the petitioners by an Ordinance, if it should be thought right to do so as a matter of policy.

E. L. O'MALLEY.