Legislative Council Panel on Health Services 8 March 1999

Response to Issues Raised
by the Chiropractors Registration Ordinance Concern Group


Purpose

This paper comments on the issues raised recently by the Chiropractors Registration Ordinance Concern Group ("the Concern Group").

The Panel Meeting in January 1999

2. The LegCo Panel on Health Services raised concerns on the progress of preparing the subsidiary legislation under the Chiropractors Registration Ordinance (Cap. 428). Members were briefed by the representatives of the Administration on the current position at the Panel meeting held on 11 January 1999, including the outstanding issues in relation to registration and disciplinary procedures. Members' views have been passed on to the Chiropractors Council, which is examining and finalizing the draft Chiropractors (Registration and Disciplinary Procedure) Rules ("the Rules").

Registration Criteria

3. At its meeting on 26 February 1999, the Chiropractors Council indicated that it has no intention to rely on membership requirement of a particular association as a precondition for registration in the chiropractic profession. The requirements for registration have been stipulated in section 9 of the Chiropractors Registration Ordinance :-

  1. The Council shall not register a person as a registered chiropractor unless -

    1. he has passed such examination in chiropractic and other subjects and has received such training and experience as the Council may accept, either generally or in a particular case; and

    2. he is not the subject of an inquiry conducted by an inquiry committee or of a disciplinary order under Part IV which precludes him from being registered under this Ordinance; and

    3. he satisfies the Council by declaration in writing that he is competent to practise as a chiropractor; and

    4. he is a fit and proper person to be registered.

  2. Without affecting the generality of subsection (1)(d), the Council may refuse to register a person as a registered chiropractor who -

    1. has been convicted in Hong Kong or elsewhere of any offence which may bring the profession of chiropractic into disrepute; or

    2. has committed misconduct or neglect in a professional respect.

4. There is at present no local training on chiropractic. To formulate guidelines for the implementation of section 9(1)(a), the Chiropractors Council has proposed to make references to the qualifications awarded by chiropractic colleges accredited with the overseas (e.g. the USA, Canada, Australia and Europe) Council on Chiropractic Education.

5. For the convenience of potential applicants and members of the public, the Chiropractors Council is considering to regularly publish in the Gazette a list of the qualifications it recognizes. The Council is also studying how these could be reflected in the Rules. The Administration will assist the Chiropractors Council in drawing up the Rules, and in particular, in area related to the implementation of section 9(1)(a), (c) and (d) of the Ordinance, in an open, fair and equitable manner. The Rules will be tabled for negative vetting by the Legislative Council after they are made by the Chiropractors Council.

Membership of the Chiropractors Council

6. The Chiropractors Council is the only statutory body empowered by the Chiropractors Registration Ordinance to administer the registration and disciplinary control of chiropractors. The mission of the Chiropractors Council is to protect the health of the public from chiropractic services offered by unqualified persons.

7. According to section 3 of the Chiropractors Registration Ordinance, the Chiropractors Council shall consist of a public officer, 4 persons who are not chiropractors and 5 persons who are chiropractors. All non-official members of the Council are appointed in their personal capacity, not as representatives of any individual association or any professional body.

8. When making an appointment, consideration is given to whether a person, if appointed, would help the Chiropractors Council to carry out its functions fairly and achieve its mission. When a chiropractor is being considered for appointment, we shall also consider whether he will be able to reflect the local chiropractic profession's views and aspirations.


Health and Welfare Bureau
March 1999