Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ6: Supplementary Medical Professions Council

Following is a question by the Dr Hon Joseph Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (April 23):

Question:

The Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Cap. 359) provides for a statutory framework for the registration, discipline and management of medical laboratory technologists, occupational therapists, optometrists, physiotherapists and radiographers. While the Ordinance stipulates that the Chairman of the Supplementary Medical Professions Council is appointed by the Chief Executive, it does not provide that the chairmanship shall not be taken up by a member of the supplementary medical professions. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether regular reviews had been conducted by the Government on the operation of the Supplementary Medical Professions Council during the 20-plus years since its establishment, and whether it has considered establishing a council for each of the above five supplementary medical professions; if there is no such consideration, of the reasons for that; and

(b) whether it will amend the above Ordinance to stipulate clearly that the chairmanship of the Council must be taken up by a member of the above professions; if it will, of the relevant timetable; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) We have all along maintained dialogues with various healthcare professions (including the five professions regulated by the Supplementary Medical Professions Council (SMPC)) to exchange views on the existing regulatory systems and other concerns of the professions.

The SMPC was established in 1981 when the five professions were still in their early stage of development in Hong Kong. In this connection, the Government took reference from overseas experience and set up a multidisciplinary platform for these professions to draw on one another's experience in the development of their respective regulatory frameworks. Under the present arrangement, the SMPC is responsible for co-ordinating and supervising the work of the Boards underpinning it, and provides appropriate advice and assistance in relation to issues involving two or more of the five professions. Each profession has its own regulatory Board responsible for the registration and discipline of its own members, and promotion of standards of professional practice and conduct. This arrangement helps ensure consistency in the services provided to the public by the supplementary medical professions, and facilitates effective communication and co-operation. Currently, the SMPC and its five Boards are operating smoothly. The Administration has no plan at this stage to establish a council for each of the five supplementary medical professions.

Since the establishment of the SMPC more than 20 years ago, the five professions have gradually matured and have gained the recognition of the Hong Kong community. At the same time, some other supplementary medical professions have expressed interest for inclusion in the statutory regulatory framework. To encourage the supplementary medical professions to develop their expertise under the principle of professional autonomy, and to further enhance our primary care and rehabilitation services to tie in with the healthcare reform, we plan to review the structure, composition and operation of the SMPC within the next term of the Legislative Council.

(b) Under the principle of professional autonomy along with a fair degree of lay participation, the current legislation allows the chairmanship of the SMPC to be assumed by a member of the relevant professions or one from other sectors. The appointment of the SMPC chairman is made on an ad personam basis taking into consideration the candidates' abilities, expertise, experience, integrity and commitment to public service. The professional background of the candidates can be one of the considerations, but appointment decision is made after taking all considerations into account. At present, the Administration has no plan to amend the legislation to prescribe any requirement on the professional background of the chairman.


Ends/Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:42

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