The Nursing Council is formerly known as the Nursing Board. The Nursing Board was named when the Nurses Registration Ordinance was first enacted in 1931. The Nurses Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 1997 was introduced to re-name the Nursing Board as Nursing Council and to broaden its representation to encourage greater involvement of the profession in its own affairs. The Nursing Council came into being on 3 May 1999.

The Nursing Council of Hong Kong (the Council) is a statutory authority established under the Nurses Registration Ordinance, Cap. 164 (the Ordinance). Its objective is to provide the community with nurses of the highest professional standard and conduct.

The main functions of the Council are:

1. To be responsible for the registration or enrolment of any person qualified in any branch of nursing and desiring such registration or enrolment;
2. To recognize courses of nursing training for the purpose of registration or enrolment under the Ordinance;
3. To determine standards of Licensing Examinations and examinations for all types of nursing training under the Ordinance and to be responsible for the conduct of such examinations; and
4. To carry out investigations of cases of alleged unprofessional conduct or unfitness to practice because of physical or mental illness.

http://www.nchk.org.hk/en/the_nursing_council_of_hong_kong/objective_and_functions/index.html (updated 2010) (accessed on 20/06/2011)