Hong Kong Ordinances

MEDICAL REGISTRATION ORDINANCE - SECT 22

Powers of Council and Health Committee in regard to obtaining of evidence and conduct at proceedings

(1) For the purposes of an inquiry under section 21 the Council shall have the
following powers-

   (a)  to hear, receive and examine evidence on oath;

   (b)  to summon any person to attend the inquiry to give evidence or produce
        any document or other thing in his possession and to examine him as a
        witness or require him to produce any document or other thing in his
        possession, subject to all just exceptions;

   (c)  to admit or exclude the public or any member of the public from the
        inquiry;

   (d)  to admit or exclude the press from the inquiry;

   (e)  to award any person summoned to attend the inquiry such sum or sums as
        in the opinion of the Council may have been reasonably expended by him
        by reason of his attendance.

(1A) For the purpose of a hearing, the Health Committee shall have the
following powers-

   (a)  to hear, receive and examine evidence on oath;

   (b)  to summon any person to attend the hearing or to give evidence or
        produce any document or other thing in his possession and to examine
        him as a witness or require him to produce any document or other thing
        in his possession, subject to all just exceptions;

   (c)  to award any person summoned to attend the hearing such sum or sums as
        in the opinion of the Health Committee may have been reasonably
        expended by him by reason of his attendance. (Added 7 of 1996 s. 28)

(1B) A hearing by the Health Committee shall be held in private. (Added 7 of
1996 s. 28)

(2) Summonses to witnesses may be in such form as the Council determines and
shall be signed by the Chairman or the chairman of the Health Committee, as
may be appropriate. (Amended 7 of 1996 s. 28)

(3) A summons to witness may be served personally, by post or by registered
post. (Added 7 of 1996 s. 28)

(4) If it appears to the Council or the Health Committee that it is necessary
to do so in the interests of the complainant, the registered 
medical practitioner concerned in the inquiry or the hearing, or any witness
concerned, the Council or the Health Committee may order that all or any
information relating to the inquiry or hearing shall not be disclosed. (Added
7 of 1996 s. 28)

(5) A person who does not comply with an order under subsection (4) commits an
offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine at level 3 and to
imprisonment for 6 months. (Added 7 of 1996 s. 28)