Press Releases

Appointments to Veterinary Surgeons Board of Hong Kong

The Government announced today (September 4) the appointment of a new member and the re-appointment of eight incumbent members to the Veterinary Surgeons Board of Hong Kong (VSB) from September 15, 2015 until such time as the newly constituted VSB with elected members is established.

The new member, Mr Timothy Ng Sau-kin, is the Park Operations Director of Ocean Park Hong Kong. He was formerly chairman of the Animal Welfare Advisory Group responsible for advising the Government on animal welfare matters.

The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, welcomed Mr Ng and those re-appointed to the VSB. He said he looked forward to their contribution to the work of the VSB in upholding the professional standards of veterinary surgeons in Hong Kong.

Dr Ko also thanked the out-going member, Dr Doris Au Wai-ting, for her dedicated service and valuable contribution to the VSB in the past seven years.

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.

The Ordinance has been amended by the Veterinary Surgeons Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 2015, passed by the Legislative Council on March 18, 2015. Among other proposals, the membership of the VSB will increase from 10 persons to 19. Six of the seats are to be filled by registered veterinary surgeons elected by members of the profession. The Government is now working on subsidiary legislation governing the election of registered veterinary surgeons to the VSB. Subject to passage of the proposed subsidiary legislation through the Legislative Council, the election is expected to take place in 2016. As and when the elected members are in place to join the VSB, 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 being.

Following is the membership list of the VSB as from September 15:

Chairman
Professor Ching Pak-chung

Members
Mr Au Pak-ching
Dr Olivia Chan Sinn-kay
Dr Gabriel Choi kin
Dr Diane Lu Dah-an
Dr Tint Naing
Mr Timothy Ng Sau-kin
Dr Florence Tang Mei-kuen
Dr Ian James Urquhart
Dr Michelle Yeung Lee

Ends/Friday, September 4, 2015
Issued at HKT 11:40

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