### Medical Registration Ordinance 《醫生註冊條例》

20S. Preliminary Investigation Committee
(1) If the Council decides to establish a Preliminary Investigation Committee, it must appoint to the Committee—
(a) 4 registered medical practitioners each of whom is—
(i) a member of the Council; or
(ii) a medical assessor; and
(b) 3 lay persons each of whom is—
(i) a lay member of the Council; or
(ii) a lay assessor. (Replaced 15 of 2018 s. 18)
(1A) The Council must appoint—
(a) a member of a Preliminary Investigation Committee to be the chairman of the Committee; and
(b) another member of the Committee to be the deputy chairman of the Committee. (Added 15 of 2018 s. 18)
(2) At a meeting of a Preliminary Investigation Committee, the quorum is 3 persons, at least one of whom is a member appointed under subsection (1)(b). (Replaced 15 of 2018 s. 18)
(2A) In addition—
(a) the majority of the persons present at the meeting must be registered medical practitioners; and
(b) the chairman and the deputy chairman are counted towards the majority mentioned in paragraph (a). (Added 15 of 2018 s. 18)
(3) At a meeting of a Preliminary Investigation Committee, the chairman or, in his absence, the deputy chairman, shall preside. (Amended 15 of 2018 s. 18)
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3), if both the chairman and the deputy chairman declare their interest in respect of a particular case which is to be decided at a meeting, neither of them may preside at the meeting and the other members present and who form a quorum must elect a person from among themselves to preside at the meeting. (Amended 15 of 2018 s. 18)
(5) A member of a Preliminary Investigation Committee—
(a) holds office for a period not exceeding 12 months as specified by the Council in the member’s letter of appointment; and
(b) is eligible for reappointment for a further period or periods not exceeding 12 months each on the expiry of the member’s period of appointment or reappointment. (Replaced 15 of 2018 s. 18)

### Medical Registration Ordinance 《醫生註冊條例》

20T. Functions of Preliminary Investigation Committee and its chairman
(1) A Preliminary Investigation Committee has the following functions— (Amended 15 of 2018 s. 19)
(a) to make preliminary investigations into complaints or information touching any matter that may be inquired into by an inquiry panel or heard by the Health Committee and to give advice on the matter to any registered medical practitioner; 
(b) to refer a case to an inquiry panel for holding an inquiry under section 21; (Replaced 15 of 2018 s. 19)
(c) to make recommendations to the Health Committee for conducting a hearing; 
(d) to make preliminary investigations upon a referral by the Education and Accreditation Committee. 
(2) A matter brought to the attention of a Preliminary Investigation Committee for determining whether a referral should be made to an inquiry panel, or whether the Health Committee should be recommended to conduct a hearing, must first be considered by the chairman of the Preliminary Investigation Committee or, in his absence, the deputy chairman thereof. 
(2A) If a Preliminary Investigation Committee decides to exercise its function described in subsection (1)(b), it must send a written notification of the decision to the Council. (Added 15 of 2018 s. 19)
(3) A Preliminary Investigation Committee, its chairman and deputy chairman shall act in accordance with such regulations in relation to their procedure made under section 33. 
(Amended 15 of 2018 s. 19)

### Medical Registration Ordinance 《醫生註冊條例》

20U. Health Committee
(1) If the Council decides to establish the Health Committee, the Council shall appoint to the Committee—
(a) a chairman who shall be elected by the Council from among its members; 
(b) 2 other members of the Council who shall be elected by the Council from among its members; 
(c) 2 registered medical practitioners, not being members of the Council, nominated by the Hong Kong Medical Association; 
(d) 1 registered medical practitioner, not being a member of the Council, nominated by the Director; 
(e) 1 registered medical practitioner, not being a member of the Council, nominated by the Hospital Authority; 
(f) 1 to 3 persons, not being members of the Council, whom the Council considers appropriate; 
(g) 2 lay persons each of whom is—
(i) a lay member of the Council; or
(ii) a lay assessor. (Replaced 15 of 2018 s. 20)
(2) A member of the Health Committee appointed under subsection (1)(f) shall hold office for such period between 6 and 12 months as the Council may specify in his letter of appointment. Other members of the Health Committee shall hold office for 12 months. 
(3) The quorum of a meeting of the Health Committee is 5, including the chairman, at least one of whom is a member appointed under subsection (1)(g), subject to the majority being registered medical practitioners. (Amended 15 of 2018 s. 20)

20V. Functions of Health Committee
(1) The Health Committee has the following functions—
(a) to conduct a hearing into any case or matter concerning the health or physical or mental fitness to practise of any registered medical practitioner, whether or not the case or matter has been investigated by a Preliminary Investigation Committee or inquired into by an inquiry panel; (Amended 15 of 2018 s. 21)
(b) to conduct a hearing into cases referred to it by an inquiry panel under section 20Y(a) or 21(1)(ivb); (Amended 15 of 2018 s. 21)
(c) to make a recommendation to the Council, after due hearing conducted under paragraph (a) or (b) into a case or matter, that the name of a registered medical practitioner be removed from the General Register permanently or for any period not exceeding 12 months, and that such an order for removal be suspended subject to such conditions as recommended by the Health Committee, where appropriate; 
(d) to recommend the extension, not exceeding 12 months, of a period of temporary removal of name recommended under paragraph (c). 
(2) The Health Committee shall act in accordance with the regulations made under section 33.