​The Government today (September 13) announced the re-appointment of Professor Ching Pak-chung as the Chairman of the Veterinary Surgeons Board of Hong Kong (VSB) from September 15, 2019, until the establishment of the newly constituted VSB.
      
     Professor Ching is currently Choh-Ming Li Research Professor of Electronic Engineering and Director of the Shun Hing Institute of Advanced Engineering of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has been the Chairman of the VSB since September 15, 2013.
      
     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, thanked Professor Ching for accepting the re-appointment and his invaluable contribution to the VSB over the years. The VSB is expected to conduct its first ever election to elect registered veterinary surgeons as members to strengthen its governance. Professor Chan is confident that Professor Ching will continue to lead the work of the VSB in ensuring a continuous high standard of veterinary service in Hong Kong.
      
     Enacted in 1997, the Veterinary Surgeons Registration Ordinance (Cap 529) provides for the establishment of the VSB, which is responsible for the regulation of the practice of veterinary surgery, the registration of veterinary surgeons, and the disciplinary control of the professional activities of registered veterinary surgeons in Hong Kong. Amendments to the Ordinance were passed by the Legislative Council (LegCo) to among others, enlarge the membership of the VSB from 10 to 19 persons. Six of the seats are to be filled by registered veterinary surgeons elected by members of the profession. The Government is targeting to introduce the subsidiary legislation governing the election of registered veterinary surgeons as members of the VSB for scrutiny by the LegCo in the fourth quarter of 2019. Subject to passage of the proposed subsidiary legislation, the election is expected to take place in 2020. As and when the elected members are in place, the Government will bring the amendment ordinance into full operation. That future date is also expected to be the time at which the newly constituted VSB will come into operation.

Ends/Friday, September 13, 2019
Issued at HKT 11:00

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