Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1907, (In two parts), Part I

File No. 3513/2–5.

Chargé Carter to the Secretary of State.

American Embassy,
London, March 2, 1907.

No. 332.]

Sir: With reference to the department’s instruction No. 366 of January 7, 1907, respecting the registration of American medical practitioners in the British possessions in the Far East, I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a note from the foreign office, dated the 28th ultimo, together with copies of the sections of the ordinances in force in Hongkong, the Straits Settlements, and Ceylon with regard to the matter which specify the conditions upon which licenses to practice are issued.

It is stated in Sir Edward Grey’s note that the governor of Hongkong has also been requested to report upon the state of affairs at present obtaining in that colony. As soon as this report is received I will forward it to the department without delay.

I have, etc.,

John Ridgely Carter.

[Inclosure.]

hongkong.

Ordinance I of 1884.—Qualifications for Registration.

11. Any person claiming to be entitled under the medical acts, 1858 and 1886, of the imperial Parliament, or any act amending the same, to be registered under this ordinance shall be so registered on producing to the colonial secretary, in proof of his title thereto, a declaration according to the Form No. 2 in the schedule of this ordinance, made by him before any justice of the peace and impressed with a stamp for duty, by way of registration fee, of $5: Provided, That the name of such person appears in The Medical Register then most recently published under the medical act, 1858, of the imperial Parliament, or such person produces to the colonial secretary a certified copy of the entry of his name in the general register or in any branch register of the United Kingdom, signed by the registrar of the general medical council or of any branch council of the United Kingdom.

12. Any person who—

(1) Is registered as a medical or surgical practitioner according to the law of any of Her Majesty’s dominions (other than the United Kingdom and this colony) and therein is entitled or qualified to practice medicine, surgery, and midwifery; or

(2) Holds a medical diploma, degree, fellowship, membership, license, authority to practice, letters testimonial, certificate, or other status or document granted by any university, corporation, college or other body, or by the Hongkong College of Medicine for Chinese in this colony, or by any department of or any person acting under the authority of the government of any country or place within or without Her Majesty’s dominions, qualifying or entitling him to practice medicine, surgery, and midwifery in the country or place where it is granted, shall be entitled to be registered under this ordinance: Provided, Always that such person shall prove to the satisfaction of the medical board that he is of good character and that he has passed through a course of study and examination as thorough and sufficient as the minimum course of study and examination in any similar case required under the said medical acts, 1858 and 1886, of the imperial Parliament or by order of Her Majesty’s privy council.

13. (1) Documentary or other evidence of the identity of any person applying for registration under the last preceding section and of the fact that such person has been registered as aforesaid in some country or place within Her Majesty’s dominions (other than the United Kingdom or this colony as aforesaid), or that such diploma or other document aforesaid has been granted and that such person possesses the necessary qualifications as aforesaid, shall be submitted to the medical board by any person applying to be registered, and the board shall forthwith consider the same.

(2) If the board is satisfied with the proofs submitted it shall grant to such person a certificate in the Form No. 3 in the schedule to this ordinance, or as near thereto as circumstances will permit.

(3) Such certificate shall be impressed with a stamp for duty, by way of registration fee, of $25, and, on production to the colonial secretary, shall entitle such person to registration as a medical practitioner in this colony.

(4) If the board is not satisfied that such person has been registered as aforesaid, or with his diploma or other document as aforesaid, or with the evidence of qualification, or with the character of the applicant, it shall submit the case, with a full report thereon, together with all documents in connection therewith, to the governor-in-council.

(5) The governor-in-council shall decide whether the board shall or shall not give the certificate as aforesaid; and such decision shall be final, and, if it is in the applicant’s favor, he shall thereupon be entitled to such certificate.

straits.

Ordinance No. 9 of 1905.

11. The following persons shall be entitled to registration under this ordinance.

(a) The holder of any British Indian of British colonial degree, diploma, or license entitling him to practice medicine and surgery.

(b) The holder of a degree or license in medicine and surgery of any medical school in Europe, the United States of America, or the Empire of Japan, the degrees, diplomas, and licenses of which are recognized as entitling to registration by the general council of medical education and registration in the United Kingdom.

(c) Persons already in practice in the colony possessing the degrees or diplomas of a regular school of medicine and surgery who shall satisfy the medical council as to the validity of their qualifications.

Provided that any person who can satisfy the medical council that he has been engaged in medical practice in the colony for not less than six months immediately preceding the commencement of this ordinance shall be entitled to submit himself for examination by the medical council in medicine surgery, including clinical medicine and surgery, midwifery and therapeutics, within three months from the commencement of this ordinance, and in the event of his satisfying the said medical council that he possesses a competent knowledge of the said subjects he shall be entitled to registration under this ordinance.

ceylon.

Ordinance No. 2 of 1905.

2. (1) The registrar of the Ceylon Medical College shall keep a register of medical practitioners qualified to practice medicine and surgery in Ceylon. The register shall be, as nearly as may be, according to Form A in the schedule to this ordinance.

(2) The said registrar shall not register any person as a medical practitioner unless he produce—

(a) In the case of a person claiming to be qualified under the acts of the United Kingdom known as the medical acts, the proof required by section 12 of this ordinance.

(b) In the case of a person claiming to be qualified otherwise than under the said acts a certificate of the council of the Ceylon Medical College that such person is entitled to be registered under this ordinance: Provided, That no certificate shall be issued by the council of the Ceylon Medical College to any person claiming to be registered under a degree, diploma, or other qualification granted or issued by any foreign state or country, unless such foreign state or country allows either by law or ordinance in that behalf, provided any person qualified to be registered and to practice medicine and surgery in Ceylon to practice as a medical practitioner in such foreign state or country without further or other qualification in that behalf.

(3) Every such registration shall be liable to a stamp duty of Rs. 5, which shall be paid by each medical practitioner before his name is entered in such register.