New Challenges after Tung’s Resignation (II)

Even before the D-day on July 10, 2005, everyone in Hong Kong can hardly believe that there would be a surprise in the coming Chief Executive election. It is not unexpectedly that Hong Kong will enter into a honey moon period with everything looks fine and orderly in the coming few months. At the same time, there is a quiet voice in the background reminding us of the importance of stability in Hong Kong.

CME

Early in March this year, there was media coverage on a debate concerning CME linkage with the licence to practise for doctors in the LegCo Health Panel. It was with great relief that some LegCo members in the Panel did respect our Professional Autonomy. Some even suggested that the Medical Profession should be consulted once more because of strong objection from members of the Medical Profession. I have heard that the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau did request the Medical Council to review the whole issue and to discuss with the professional organizations in the way forward. Hurray to the work of our sister medical organizations, our LegCo Members in the Health Panel and also to the untiring support from you all along! We should now relax and see what happens next. I really hope that the Medical Council of Hong Kong would understand the importance of cooperation of the whole profession on this VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE and be sincere enough to consult very member of the profession again for means of ensuring the quality of medical practice, if indeed there is such a concern.

Practice Promotion

From the result of the surveys on the captioned issue of the three medical organizations, namely, the Hong Kong Medical Association, Practising Estate Doctors’ Association and our Union, all and all show that over 73% 1 of members of the Profession are against further relaxation on the measures of practice promotion of doctors. The reasons of which have been reproduced on page 10 of January 2005 issue of Hong Kong Doctors Union Bulletin. Some members may take the view that it is unfair for health institutes to advertise while individual members are not allowed to do so. However these members are still unwilling to accept further liberalization of practice promotion for the simple reason that there WOULD STILL BE NO LEVEL PLAYING FIELD even if solo practitioners are allowed to advertise. I believe that the matter would be further discussed in the Profession.

Visit to Beijing

On 15th to 17th May 2005, 32 delegates representing 14 Hong Kong Medical Bodies were arranged by the Liaison Office of the Central Government to visit important institutes in Beijing. Hong Kong Doctors Union was represented by a team of 3 members: namely Dr. Ng Yu Kin, Dr. Leung Hon Fai and myself. We have been received by the following high rank officials of the medical and Government institutes in Mainland China:-

Dr. Han Qide, Vice Chairman of National People’s Congress Standing Committee and President of Health Science Center, Peking University.

Prof. Huang Jiefu, Vice Minister of Ministry of Health, People’s Republic of China;

Mr. Zhou Bo, Vice Director of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, State Council;

Mr. Lou ZhiHao, Vice Minister of United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee;

Dr. Wang Yu, Director of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention;

Prof. Wu Mingjiang, Vice President and Secretary General of Chinese Medical Association;

Prof. Chen Zhongqiang, President of Peking University Third Hospital.

Apart from agreeing on further Academic exchanges between Hong Kong and Mainland China, Hong Kong Doctors Union elaborated on the difficulties encountered by doctors of Hong Kong in seeking practice opportunities in Mainland China. We have presented a written submission on the hurdles encountered by our members to Mr. Zhou Bo, Vice Director of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, State Council and Prof. Huang Jiefu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health, People’s Republic of China (Please refer to page xxx of this bulletin for details). We were astonished to have a very favourable reply from Prof. Huang Jiefu.  Prof. Huang reassured us that under CEPA, the central Government would work to lower the hurdles we encountered. Their aim was to ultimately allow doctors of Hong Kong to practise in Mainland China under the same regulations as for our counterparts in Mainland China. Prof. Huang promised that the central Government would announce the revised requirements pretty soon. So, for those members who really think of serving our motherland, wait for the good news. After all, the ratio of registered doctor to population is 1:3,000 in Mainland China vs 1:400 in Hong Kong 2. There should be ample opportunities with the booming of the Mainland Economy.

On return home, I found the night scenery from the airplane above Beijing is completely different from that ten years ago. It is such a beautiful scenery full of hope which can be compared with that of Los Angeles of the United States of America at night. Do you agree?

Dr. Yeung Chiu Fat Henry

1. Survey on Proposed amendments to relevant paragraphs of The Professional Code and Conduct on “practice promotion”

2. There are altogether 430,000 doctors (Chinese/Western) with university training in Mainland China serving a population of 1.3 billion; while there are 10,000 western practitioners and 7,000 licensed Chinese Medicine Practitioners serving a Hong Kong population of 6,500,000.