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Letter dated 26 January 2026 from Expert Panel on HIV Infection of Health Care Workers ("the Expert Panel")
Letter dated 27 January 2026 from Medical Laboratory Technologists
Board to all registrants
A letter has been received from the Expert Panel updating the Allied Health Professions Council on its function and work. The letter is now attached for reference by members of Allied Health Professions. Registrants are advised to refer to the recommendations as set out in the letter, and to access the website of the Expert Panel for further information, or to contact the Expert Panel when the need arises
All registered medical laboratory technologists shall comply with the following statutory requirements under the Allied Health Professions Ordinance (the Ordinance) and the Code of Practice -
- Section 16(1) – Holding of a valid practising certificate
- A registered person shall not practise a profession in Hong Kong unless he is the holder of a practising certificate which is then in force.
- The Board may direct removal from the register of the name of any person, who being a person required to be the holder of a practising certificate, has practised a profession in Hong Kong for a period exceeding 6 months without having obtained such a certificate (section 10(4) of the Ordinance)
- Section 18(1) – Display of certificate of registration
- Except for those exempted under section 30 of the Ordinance, a registrant shall keep displayed his certificate of registration or a certified copy of such certificate issued under section 14(3) of the Ordinance in a conspicuous position in any premises in which he practises the profession. Failure to comply with the requirement is an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 1.
- Section 21(2) – Employment of unregistered persons
- Any person who employs any unregistered persons to practise the profession of medical laboratory technologists commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 2 and imprisonment for 6 months.
- Section 14(5) – Reporting of updated addresses
- A registrant should report to the Secretary (a) every address at which he practices the profession; and (b) any change of his correspondence and practising addresses within two months of such a change. Failure to do so without reasonable excuse commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 1.
All registered medical laboratory technologists should also note the following -
- Section 11 – Publication of register and evidence of registration
- A list of the names, addresses, qualifications and dates of the qualifications of all persons whose names appear on the register has to be published annually in the HKSAR Government Gazette.
- The correspondence address provided by the registrants (which can be the practising address, the residential address, a Post Office Box number, etc.) to the Board will be published in the Gazette and the relevant Government website where the e-Gazette is published.
- Section 19(1) – Unsuitable premises for practice
- No person registered shall practise his profession in premises which are considered by the relevant board to be unsuitable for such practice.
- Registered medical laboratory technologists should note the guidelines on premises suitable for practice when they practise their profession.
- Section 20(2) – Professionally qualified directors
- A company registered under the Companies Ordinance may carry on the business of practising the profession of medical laboratory technologists if at least one director thereof is a ‘professionally qualified director’ (a Part I medical laboratory technologist) and all persons practising the profession who are employed by the company are registered medical laboratory technologist.
- A corporation which carries on the business of practising the profession of medical laboratory technologists other than in compliance with section 20(2) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 2 and imprisonment for 6 months.
- Section 20(3) – Company returns
- Companies carrying on the business of practising the medical laboratory technologist profession should submit a statement to the Secretary within 14 days after 1 July in each year.
- A company which fails to comply with the requirement commits an offence which is liable for conviction to a fine at level 1 and imprisonment for 3 months.
All registrants should take note of the following when practising the profession –
- Proper referral for performance of medical test
Under Section 6 of Part II of the Code of Practice, no Medical Laboratory Technologist should -
- perform any tests for the purpose of medical diagnosis and treatment in the absence of a referral from registered medical, Chinese Medicine (See the required conditions in Note (i)), dental and/or veterinary practitioners, or a person registered in respect of a medical clinic exempted under section 8(1) of the Medical Clinics Ordinance, Cap. 343 (See Note (ii))
- knowingly accept, obtain, assist in obtaining or report on any specimen for the purpose of medical diagnosis and/or treatment of disease, or make any investigation for those purposes unless the diagnosis and/or treatment are to be performed by a registered medical, Chinese Medicine (See the required conditions in Note (i)), dental, or veterinary practitioners, or a person registered in respect of a medical clinic exempted under section 8(1) of the Medical Clinics Ordinance, Cap. 343 (See Note (ii)).
Note (i): A medical laboratory technologist may perform the test referred to in paragraph 6.3 or do the acts referred to in paragraph 6.4 on referral by a registered Chinese medicine practitioner only if the following conditions are met:- (a) the medical laboratory technologist is authorized by The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (“CMHHK”) to provide services to its patient; (b) the registered Chinese medicine practitioner is authorized by CMHHK to provide services to its patient; and (c) the medical laboratory technologist is providing services that are authorized by CMHHK to its patient.
Note (ii): Unless there is specific evidence to the contrary, it is considered that a person who has carefully followed procedures which have been approved by hospitals and similar institutions will not be considered to be in breach of this requirement. Even in those cases where there is specific evidence, the Board may take into account special circumstances that a breach of this rule should not make the person guilty of misconduct in a professional respect.
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