### Nurses Registration Ordinance 《護士註冊條例》

16A. Person not to practise as enrolled nurse without practising certificate
(1) A person to whom this section applies shall not practise as an enrolled nurse in Hong Kong unless he is the holder of a practising certificate which is then in force issued under this section. 
(2) Subject to the payment of the prescribed fee for the issue of a practising certificate under this section, the secretary, on application made to him for that purpose by a person to whom this section applies, shall issue to the person a certificate to the effect that the person is, subject to any conditions and restrictions specified in the certificate, entitled to practise as an enrolled nurse in Hong Kong. 
(3) Where the secretary issues a practising certificate in respect of a period which is to commence in the year in which the application for the certificate is made, he shall issue a certificate that, subject to subsection (5), is in force from the date of its issue until the end of the third year commencing on 1 January of the year of issue. 
(4) Where the secretary issues a practising certificate in respect of a period that is to commence in the year following the year in which the application for the certificate is made, he shall issue a certificate that, subject to subsection (5), is in force for a period of 3 years commencing on 1 January of the first year of the relevant period. 
(5) If at any time during the currency of a practising certificate issued under this section, the name of the holder of the certificate is removed from the roll, the certificate shall thereupon be deemed to be cancelled. 
(6) Any person who is required under this section to be the holder of a practising certificate issued under this section shall be deemed to have obtained the certificate when he has duly applied to the secretary and paid the prescribed fee for the issue of the practising certificate. 
(7) This section applies to—
(a) a person enrolled under section 15; and 
(b) a person deemed to be an enrolled nurse by virtue of section 26(b). 
(Added 34 of 1995 s. 29)

### Nurses Registration Ordinance 《護士註冊條例》

16AA. Replacement copies of certificates of enrolment or of practising certificates for enrolled nurses
(1) The holder of a current certificate of enrolment or practising certificate issued under section 16 or 16A respectively may apply to the secretary for a replacement copy of the certificate of enrolment or of the practising certificate (as the case may be) if the original certificate of enrolment or practising certificate (as the case may be) is lost, destroyed or defaced.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the secretary shall issue to the applicant a replacement copy of the certificate on receipt of an application accompanied by a prescribed fee.
(3) The secretary shall not issue a replacement copy of the certificate unless the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the secretary that the original certificate is lost, destroyed or defaced.
(Added 9 of 2002 s. 4)

16B. Recovery of practising fees
(1) If a person to whom section 16A applies contravenes subsection (1) of that section, the amount of the prescribed fee payable by him under subsection (2) of that section shall be recoverable as a civil debt. 
(2) In any proceedings under this section a certificate purporting to be under the hand of the secretary to the effect that the person concerned had not paid the prescribed fee for the issue of a practising certificate issued under section 16A is admissible as evidence of the non-payment of the fee. 
(3) On recovery of a prescribed fee payable under section 16A the secretary shall, if the name of the person concerned appears on the roll, issue to him an appropriate practising certificate. 
(Added 34 of 1995 s. 29)

### Nurses Registration Ordinance 《護士註冊條例》

18. Powers of the Council with regard to obtaining evidence and the conduct of proceedings
(Amended 82 of 1997 s. 21)(1) For the purpose of any inquiry under section 9, 15 or 17, the Council shall have the following powers— (Amended 38 of 1970 s. 8; 82 of 1997 s. 21)
(a) to take evidence and examine witnesses on oath;
(b) to summon any person to attend the inquiry to give evidence or to produce any document or other thing in his possession or under his control and to examine him as a witness or to require him to produce any document or other thing in his possession or under his control;
(c) to admit or exclude the public or any member of the public from the inquiry;
(d) to admit or exclude the press from the inquiry; and
(e) to award any person summoned to attend the inquiry such sum or sums as in the opinion of the Council may have been reasonably expended by him by reason of his attendance. (Amended 82 of 1997 s. 21)
(2) Summonses as to witnesses may be in such form as may be prescribed and shall be signed by the secretary.

19. Penalty for failure to give evidence
Any person who, being summoned to attend as a witness or to produce any document or other thing at any inquiry held in accordance with the provisions of section 17, refuses or neglects to do so or to answer any question put to him by or with the leave of the Council shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine at level 1 and to imprisonment for 3 months: (Amended E.R. 7 of 2020)
Provided that no person shall be required to answer any question, or to produce any document or other thing which, in the opinion of the Council, may tend to incriminate himself; and every witness shall, in respect of any evidence given by him before the Council, be entitled to the same privileges to which he would be entitled if he were giving evidence before a court of justice.(Amended 82 of 1997 s. 21)

20. Representation of parties at disciplinary inquiries
The complainant in any inquiry held in accordance with the provisions of section 17 and the registered nurse or enrolled nurse whose conduct is the subject of such inquiry shall be entitled to be represented by counsel or solicitor or by a friend throughout the inquiry. 
(Amended 38 of 1970 s. 9; 45 of 1972 s. 3)