The Government today (June 29) gazetted the Medical Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 (Commencement) Notice and the Medical Council (Election and Appointment of Lay Members) Regulation Commencement Notice.

     Under the Medical Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 which became effective on April 6, the number of lay members of the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK) increases from four to eight.

     Among them, three of the four additional lay members are to be elected to the MCHK by patient organisations. Moreover, patient organisations shall nominate two to 10 assessors for the MCHK's appointment to take part in the complaint investigation and disciplinary inquiry of the MCHK.

     "There is an imminent need to commence the relevant provisions in the Medical Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 and the Medical Council (Election and Appointment of Lay Members) Regulation, so that the patient organisations can start election and nomination procedures as soon as possible," a Government spokesman said. 

     The relevant provisions of the Ordinance and the Regulation came into effect today when the commencement notices were gazetted, the spokesman added.

     The Government introduced the Medical Council (Election and Appointment of Lay Members) Regulation into the Legislative Council in May this year to provide for the election procedures of the three lay members who represent patients' interests.

     Upon the commencement of the Regulation, the MCHK Secretariat will invite patient organisations to apply for registration as eligible electors for the election. After the compilation of the electoral register, the MCHK Secretariat will proceed with the procedures on candidate nomination and polling.

     The election is expected to be completed by the end of 2018 and the target is for the three lay members to assume office in early 2019.

     The Electoral Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2018 was published in the Gazette today (June 29). The Bill amends certain electoral legislation to improve the voter registration (VR) arrangements, and the electoral procedures for the Chief Executive, Election Committee Subsector, Legislative Council (LegCo), District Council and Rural Representative elections.

     "We are preparing for the elections in the next election cycle, and have reviewed the electoral legislation in the light of the experience gained. We propose to introduce certain amendments through the Electoral Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2018," a Government spokesman said.

     In addition, the Bill proposes to enhance the VR system, including increasing maximum penalties for offences relating to VR to strengthen the deterrent effect, and improving the VR claim and objection mechanism so as to process relevant cases more effectively and minimise the chance of any possible abuse. The Bill also proposes to broaden the pool of eligible candidates for appointment as Revising Officer to include former and retired magistrates, in order to allow more flexibility for the Judiciary to make suitable appointment of Revising Officers.

     Furthermore, the Bill proposes to introduce a targeted exemption of the criminal liability in respect of a third party who incurs merely electricity and Internet access charges in publishing election advertisements on the Internet, to safeguard the freedom enjoyed by the public in their daily expression of views on the Internet under the premise of upholding the fairness of elections, and to rationalise electoral procedures and improve the clarity and consistency of certain electoral legislation.

     "We plan to introduce the Bill into the LegCo for first and second readings on July 11, 2018. We hope that the Bill can be passed within 2018, so that the amendments to enhance the voter registration and electoral procedures can come into effect as soon as possible," the spokesman said.

     The Bill and details of the proposals have been made available at the LegCo webpage.

     The Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 5) Ordinance 2018 (the Amendment Ordinance) was gazetted and came into operation today (June 29) to expand the scope of profits tax deductions for capital expenditure incurred by enterprises for the purchase of intellectual property (IP) rights from five types to eight with effect from the year of tax assessment 2018/19.
 
     The additional three types of IP rights involved are rights in layout design (topography) of integrated circuits, plant varieties and performances. The original five types of IP rights for which profits tax deductions have already been provided for the capital expenditure incurred for their purchase are patents, know-how, copyright, registered designs and registered trade marks. 
 
     "The expansion of the scope of profits tax deductions is one of our initiatives to encourage enterprises to engage in the development of IP trading business and promote Hong Kong as an IP trading hub in the Asia-Pacific region. Implementation of this initiative through the Amendment Ordinance would add new impetus to our efforts," a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said.
 
     The Amendment Bill also expands the scope of tax deductions originally provided for the registration expenses for trade marks, designs and patents, to cover plant variety rights as well.
 
     The Amendment Ordinance was passed by the Legislative Council on June 20. With the expansion in the scope of tax deductions provided therein, capital expenditure incurred by enterprises for the purchase of various major types of IP rights, as well as the expenses for the registration of IP rights under applicable regimes, would be deductible under the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (June 29) said that 12 of its general out-patient clinics (see table below) will provide services on the holiday next Monday (July 2) following the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day. Members of the public are reminded to make advance booking through the telephone system as usual for an appointment.  
 
     The spokesperson further remarked that the Accident & Emergency (A&E) Departments in public hospitals will also operate as usual during the holiday to serve the patients with urgent medical needs.  The established triage system will ensure priority treatment for critical and emergency patients according to their clinical conditions.
 
     "The queuing time is expected to be longer for semi-urgent and non-urgent patients as there may be more patients attending A&E departments during the holiday." The spokesperson appeals to the public for understanding and cooperation while waiting for consultations. Non-urgent patients are advised to consider seeking consultations at general out-patient clinics, private doctors or the 24-hour clinics of private hospitals.
 
     To help find the appropriate family medicine doctor and related clinic service of their choice, members of the public are welcome to call the HA Infoline (2882 4866) for information on holiday general out-patient clinic service, or to browse the Primary Care Directory of Department of Health at www.pcdirectory.gov.hk, or download the mobile App of "Primary Care Directory".

 
Consultation Hours:
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
 

     Hongkong Post today (June 29) announced the issue of a set of special stamps on the theme of "Children Stamps – Fun with Numbers and Symbols", together with associated philatelic products, on July 17 (Tuesday).
 
     Our world is full of numbers which enable us to communicate easily and effectively. Numbers are used for dates and times, prices on a menu, dialing a friend's phone and in so many other practical and interesting ways. People learn to count in their childhood, and apply simple arithmetic every day throughout their lives. Yet, how many of us know the origin of numbers or of the symbols for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division?
 
     Hongkong Post has designed an attractive and educational set of 16 stamps, which will appeal to children with their vibrant colours and simple designs, featuring the numbers 0 to 9, and the symbols "+", "−", "×", "÷", "%" and "=". These numbers and symbols can be joined up to form different mathematical formulae or convey different meanings. With their boundless imagination and creativity, children will have fun expressing their ideas with these stamps.
 
     These unique $2 stamps are a great way for children to learn more about the world around them and to make their first connections with stamp collecting, with something familiar to them in the forms of numbers and symbols. Additionally, with the first day cover and presentation pack, children can learn more about the stories and history of the numbers and symbols they use in everyday life.
 
     Also available is a unique souvenir pack, containing a set of 16 stamps and playing cards with instructions for simple games, specially designed for little hands and enquiring young minds. So parents can have fun with their children, helping them learn their numbers in a most entertaining way.
 
     Official First Day Covers at $1.30 each will be put on sale at all post offices from July 3. The stamps and associated philatelic products will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office, Sha Tin Central Post Office and Tuen Mun Central Post Office from the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from July 3 to 9.
      
     Information about this special stamp issue and associated philatelic products is available on the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.hk and via the Hongkong Post mobile app.