Hong Kong Ordinances

VETERINARY SURGEONS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE - SECT 18

Inquiry committee and rules of conduct

(1) The Board may refer any complaint referred to it under section  17 (3)
alleging a disciplinary offence to an inquiry committee for decision, and for
that purpose the Board may establish an inquiry  committee of not less than 3
of its members, one of whom shall be a person appointed under section 3(2)(b)
or (c), to determine whether or not the registered veterinary surgeon against
whom the complaint is made has committed a disciplinary offence.

(2) The Secretary shall send notice of a referral under subsection

(1) and an adequate statement of the substance of the complaint by prepaid
registered post to the last known address of the registered veterinary 
surgeon.

(3) The Board may make rules providing for the conduct of its inquiries by an
inquiry committee and for other matters relating to the investigation of an
alleged disciplinary offence.

(4) The Legal Adviser shall be present at every inquiry conducted by an
inquiry committee.

(5) The inquiry committee shall not proceed to hear evidence of a complaint
concerning a disciplinary offence unless it is satisfied that the requirements
of subsection (2) have been complied with and that the
registered veterinary surgeon in respect of whom the complaint is made has
been given 28 days' notice of the complaint and the date, time and place of
the hearing.

(6) The registered veterinary surgeon referred to in subsection (5) shall be
entitled to attend and hear all evidence produced at the hearing and informed
of any advice tendered by the Legal Adviser to the inquiry  committee under
section 7(3) and shall be provided with a copy of this Ordinance and any rules
made under this section.

(7) The Board may make rules for the rehearing of an inquiry by an
inquiry committee.

(8) Where a registered veterinary surgeon is alleged to have committed a
disciplinary offence under section 17(1)(b) or (f), the inquiry committee-

   (a)  shall not be required to inquire whether he was properly convicted of
        the alleged offence; and

   (b)  may consider any record of the case in which a conviction was recorded
        and any other evidence which the inquiry committee may think is
        relevant as showing the nature and gravity of the offence.

(9) The inquiry committee may, in deciding whether a person has committed a
disciplinary offence, have regard to any rules of professional conduct or Code
of Practice made or issued by the Board.

(10) The Board shall notify the complainant of the action taken by it and,
where it has referred the matter to an inquiry committee, shall notify the
complainant of the results.