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Statutory body established under Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance, Chapter 359, Laws of Hong Kong

The Supplementary Medical Professions Council was established under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance, Chapter 359, Laws of Hong Kong, in 1981. The Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance, enacted in 1980, provides a statutory framework for the registration, discipline and management of persons engaged in the following professions:

1. medical laboratory technologists,
2. occupational therapists,
3. optometrists,
4. physiotherapists and
5. radiographers.

The functions of the Supplementary Medical Professions Council

1. to promote adequate standards of professional practice and of professional conduct in the above-named five professions;
2. to co-ordinate and supervise the activities of the five Boards established respectively for the five professions under the same Ordinance; and
3. to carry out any additional functions assigned to it by the Ordinance.

Section 4 of the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance

1. The purposes of the Council shall be-
   1. to promote adequate standards of professional practice and of professional conduct in the professions;
   2. to co-ordinate and supervise the activities of the boards established under section 5; and
   3. to carry out any additional functions assigned to it by this Ordinance.
2. The Council shall perform its function of co-ordinating and supervising the activities of the boards-
1. by making to each board, or inviting the board to make to the Council, proposals as to the activities to be carried on by the board or other boards;
2. by recommending a board to carry on such activities, or to limit its activities in such manner, as the Council considers appropriate after consultation with the board on the proposals referred to in paragraph (a); (Amended 68 of 1995 s. 2)
3. by concerning itself with matters appearing to it to be of special interest to any 2 or more of the boards, and by giving to the boards such advice and assistance as it thinks fit with respect to such matters; and
4. by exercising its powers under this Ordinance in such manner as the Council considers most conducive to the satisfactory performance by each board of the board's functions under this Ordinance. (Amended L.N. 587 of 1995)

Power of the Council under section 12(1) of the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance

1. 1. Subject to this Ordinance, the following persons are qualified to be registered-
   1. a person who-
      1. holds such degree, diploma or other document as may be prescribed, issued by any examining body as may be prescribed or by the board; or
      2. holds any such degree, diploma or other document and has the prescribed experience; or (Replaced 70 of 1989 s. 2)
   2. a person who holds such other degree, diploma or any other document of any examining body, which together with appropriate experience, may from time to time be recognized by the Council as qualifying the holder thereof to be registered; and in deciding whether or not to so recognize the Council may consult the relevant board; or
   3. a person who, on the date on which this section commenced to apply to a profession, is practising that profession and who by reason of his education, training, professional experience and skill satisfies the Council, after consultation with the relevant board, that he is a fit person to be registered.
2. 1A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Ordinance, the Council shall-
   1. determine in which part of the register, not being a part referred to in section 15(8), the name of a person qualified to be registered by virtue of subsection (1)(b) or (c) shall be entered, subject to his application for registration being approved under section 13(2); and
   2. direct the secretary of the relevant board accordingly for the purposes of entry in the register under section 13(4). (Added 70 of 1989 s. 2)
3. 2. A person who wilfully procures himself or any other person to be registered by making or producing or causing to be made or produced, any false or fraudulent representation or declaration, whether in writing or otherwise commits an offence.