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The Radiographers Board (“the Board”) is a statutory body established under the Allied Health Professions Ordinance (“AHPO”), Cap. 359, Hong Kong Law to promote adequate standards of professional practice. The Board at its 54th meeting held on 25 September 2025 resolved the following to clarify that Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) falls within the meaning of “radio-diagnostic equipment”, and therefore within the remit of the radiography profession under the AHPO.
Pursuant to Item 2 of Schedule 1 of AHPO, a radiographer is a person trained to operate, inter alia, radio-diagnostic, ultra sound and thermographic equipment for the purpose of radiological diagnosis. While the term “radio-diagnostic” is not explicitly defined in the Ordinance, the Board has considered the following to reach its determination:
Technical Basis
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) classifies the application of physical principles for medical imaging as “diagnostic radiology”, a field that utilizes electromagnetic radiation. This includes the use of X-rays in radiography and computed tomography, as well as the use of radiofrequency (RF) waves in MRI. MRI functions by imaging hydrogen nuclei, leveraging their ability to absorb RF energy within a magnetic field. The resulting signals are detected and processed to generate detailed three-dimensional anatomical images. This technical foundation supports the classification of MRI as a modality within diagnostic radiology.
International Professional Practice
The International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists (ISRRT) explicitly includes MRI as a specialty within radiography, with radiographers being educationally prepared and legally authorized to perform such imaging procedures. Furthermore, regulatory frameworks in jurisdictions such as Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom consistently restrict MRI operation to qualified radiographers, establishing a clear international standard for professional practice and patient safety.
Deeming clarity on this matter essential for public safety, professional regulation, and to stakeholder guidance, the Board hereby resolves that Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is classified as "radio-diagnostic equipment" for the purposes of the AHPO. Consequently, the operation of an MRI scanner for radiological diagnosis falls within the scope of practice of radiographers as stipulated in Schedule 1 of the AHPO.
Radiographers Board Secretariat
October 2025
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