IN the article written by your reporter Ms Alison Wiseman and headlined, ''Sex-offence dentist in practice'' (South China Morning Post, February 23), I was quoted to have said in my capacity as the Secretary of Dental Council that: ''It is possible that the dentist is still a potential danger to his patients and we must move to uphold the standards of the profession.'' First of all, I must stress that for obvious reasons I did decline to comment on the case in question and also refuse to disclose any details relating to the disciplinary proceedings still in progress.
However, in response to questions from the media representatives on the general issue of the need for both the Medical Council and Dental Council to initiate disciplinary action against an individual registered as a doctor and dentist respectively who ''has been convicted in Hong Kong or elsewhere of any criminal offence punishable with imprisonment'', I did, in fact, draw their attention to relevant provisions under the Medical Registration Ordinance, Cap 161 & Dentists Registration Ordinance, Cap 156 respectively; and also explained that the Medical and Dental Councils have a duty to uphold good professional standards in the best interests of the public, their patients in particular.
Additionally, the registration policy as a whole as well as application procedures for registration as a doctor or dentist in Hong Kong were explained.
RUPERT CHEUNG Secretary Medical Council of Hong Kong and Dental Council of Hong Kong
