Hong Kong Regulations

CHIROPRACTORS (REGISTRATION AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE) RULES - SECT 29

Procedure at inquiry

(1) At an inquiry held by the Inquiry Committee, the Secretary shall, subject
to section 30, present the case against the respondent, adduce evidence in
support of the case and then close the case against the respondent.

(2) At the closing of the case against the respondent, the chairman of the
Inquiry Committee shall ask the respondent whether he or his legal 
representative wishes to make either or both of the following submissions in
relation to a charge in respect of which evidence has been adduced-

   (a)  that sufficient evidence has not been adduced by the Secretary upon
        which the Inquiry Committee can find that the truth of the facts as
        alleged in the charge has been proved;

   (b)  that the facts as alleged in the charge are not such as to support a
        finding that the respondent has committed a disciplinary offence.

(3) If a submission is made under subsection (2), the Secretary may reply to
the submission, and the respondent may, either himself or through his
legal representative, answer the reply.

(4) The Inquiry Committee shall then determine whether the submission made
under subsection (2) shall be upheld and the chairman of the Inquiry Committee
shall announce the determination.

(5) If the Inquiry Committee-

   (a)  upholds the submission made by the respondent or his legal 
        representative in respect of a charge, the finding shall be recorded
        that the respondent has not committed the disciplinary offence; or

   (b)  rejects the submission made by the respondent or his legal 
        representative, the chairman of the Inquiry Committee shall call on
        the respondent or his legal representative to state the respondent's
        case.

(6) When called on to state the respondent's case, the respondent may, either
himself or through his legal representative-

   (a)  adduce evidence in support of his case; and

   (b)  address the Inquiry Committee once, either before or after adducing
        such evidence.

(7) At the conclusion of the case of the respondent, the Secretary may address
the Inquiry Committee in reply if evidence other than the respondent's own
evidence has been adduced on behalf of the respondent or leave to address the
Inquiry Committee has been obtained from the Inquiry  Committee.