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Letter dated 15 December 2021 from the Chairman of the Supplementary Medical Professions Council to all registrants
Letter dated 21 December 2023 from Expert Panel on HIV Infection of Health Care Workers ("the Expert Panel")
A letter has been received from the Expert Panel updating the Supplementary Medical Professions Council on its function and work. The letter is now attached for reference by members of Supplementary Medical Professions. Registrants are advised to refer to the recommendations as set out in the letter, and to access the website of the Expert Panel for further information, or to contact the Expert Panel when the need arises
All registered physiotherapists shall comply with the following statutory requirements under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (the Ordinance) and the Code of Practice -
- Section 16(1) – Holding of a valid practising certificate
- A registered person shall not practise a profession in Hong Kong unless he is the holder of a practising certificate which is then in force.
- The Board may direct removal from the register of the name of any person, who being a person required to be the holder of a practising certificate, has practised a profession in Hong Kong for a period exceeding 6 months without having obtained such a certificate (section 10(4) of the Ordinance).
- Section 18(1) – Display of certificate of registration
- Except for those exempted under section 30 of the Ordinance, a registrant shall keep displayed his certificates of registration or a certified copy of such certificate issued under section 14(3) of the Ordinance in a conspicuous position in any premises in which he practises the profession. Failure to comply with the requirement is an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $1,000.
- Section 21(2) – Employment of unregistered persons
- Any person who employs any unregistered persons to practise physiotherapy profession commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for 6 months.
- Section 14(5) – Reporting of updated addresses
- A registrant should report to the Secretary (a) every address at which he practices the profession; and (b) any change of his correspondence and practising addresses within two months of such a change. Failure to do so without reasonable excuse commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $500.
All registered physiotherapists should also note the following -
- Section 11 – Publication of register and evidence of registration
- A list of the names, addresses, qualifications and dates of the qualifications of all persons whose names appear on the register has to be published annually in the HKSAR Government Gazette.
- The correspondence address provided by the registrants (which can be the practising address, the residential address, a Post Office Box number, etc.) to the Board will be published in the Gazette and the relevant Government website where the e-Gazette is published.
- Section 19(1) – unsuitable premises for practice
- No person registered shall practise his profession in premises which are considered by the relevant board to be unsuitable for such practice.
- Registered physiotherapists should note the guidelines on premises suitable for practice when they practise their profession in physiotherapy.
- Section 20(2) – Professionally qualified directors
- A company registered under the Companies Ordinance may carry on the business of practising physiotherapy if at least one director thereof is a registered person and all persons practising physiotherapy who are employed by the company are registered physiotherapists.
- A corporation which carries on the business of practising physiotherapy other than in compliance with section 20(2) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for 6 months.
- Section 20(3) – Company returns
- Companies carrying on the business of practising physiotherapy should submit a statement to the Secretary within 14 days after 1 July in each year.
- A company which fails to comply with the requirement commits an offence which is liable for conviction to a fine of $500 and imprisonment for 3 months.
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