Political situation
Written by: Lin Jian
2021-05-18 20:06
Last update date: 2021-05-18 20:06
The Government today (18) announced the contents of the "Doctor Registration (Amendment) Bill 2021". It proposes to amend the law and introduce a test-exemption system to introduce non-local trained doctors. Hong Kong permanent residents studying overseas are allowed to register in the form of special registration. After five years of working in a public medical institution, they have obtained the qualifications of officially registered doctors in Hong Kong. The list of accredited institutions is drawn up by the special registration committee and checked every three years.
The draft amendment will be submitted to the Legislative Council for first reading on June 2.
The issue of the introduction of overseas doctors has been discussed in Hong Kong for a long time. The government still skipped public consultation and submitted the draft to the Legislative Council under the opposition of the medical profession this time. This is politically "a step forward."
However, many establishments admitted frankly that restricting the scope to permanent residents in Hong Kong has greatly restricted the effectiveness of the policy. Many people have expressed to "Hong Kong 01" that they will continue to fight for the government to expand the scope of overseas doctors to non-residents. The strength of Hong Kong residents' ultimate fight will largely depend on two factors.
▼Government amended regulations and exempted examinations to introduce overseas doctors to alleviate manpower shortage▼
Zhang Yuren intends to propose amendments to include more non-permanent resident doctors
Liberal Party Legislative Council Member and Executive Council Member Zhang Yuren said that the government is welcome to introduce amendments to the Overseas Doctors Ordinance, but believes that the government’s proposal is narrower than the Liberal Party’s earlier private bill, and it is recommended to include children of permanent residents; Federal doctor; in addition to the school, work experience and hospitals should also be considered.
When Zhang Yuren replied to the author's inquiry, he further mentioned that it is difficult for individuals to assess the opposing power of the medical profession, but he criticized some people for "unscrupulous means to do their best" for personal gain.
He also pointed out that he received news that some people in the medical field are planning to "do something" to oppose the amendment. The specific form is not clear, but they threatened to "die with the government."
However, he pointed out that the government has anticipated strong opposition from the medical profession, but Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's attitude is "death to death", so it is expected that the legislative amendment will continue.
He pointed out that it has not yet been determined whether he will serve as the chairman of the Bills Committee in the future, but based on his past experience, expressing opinions in the meeting as a member will make the work more convenient and make the public understand the importance of the amendment.
Agree with Li Guozhang's "scum theory" and severely criticize some doctors for selfishness and discredit their family members
Zhang Yuren also pointed out that due to the narrow coverage of this amendment, which is only limited to Hong Kong permanent residents, it is expected that a total of only a few hundred doctors can be attracted back to Hong Kong. "Always return to Hong Kong. He (overseas doctors) wants to return. Come back, don’t want to return, don’t want to return to the shelf, there is a decision early in the morning, so many doctors will return every year after meeting?" He also stated clearly that he is considering proposing amendments to the bill to allow children of permanent residents. As long as you know both Chinese and English, you don’t need to be a permanent resident of Hong Kong and you can return to practice.
In an interview with "Hong Kong 01" earlier, Li Guozhang, a member of the Executive Council, mentioned that "every industry also has scum," and pointed out that some doctors are too selfish.
Zhang Yuren said "agree to 100%." He laughed and said that apart from everyone being "fat and white," he and Li Guozhang had something in common, that is, critics do not like to cheat words, like to go straight to the point, and hit the nail on the head: "What about the doctor? Li Guozhang is not easy to see in the industry.” Zhang Yuren severely criticized that some doctors were selfish and self-interested. In order to protect the interests of the industry, they "pointed and looked after the medical committee," when he proposed to reform the medical committee. At that time, he and his family were widely discredited.
"I have spoken publicly many times. My lesbian son-in-law returned to Hong Kong for a vacation in May 2019. He left at the end of June. He is no longer interested in returning to Hong Kong to practice medicine. (Because) he saw the "dark violence" in Hong Kong. ."
Ge Peifan: "One fine step" must also follow the organizational system without mentioning the careful division of labor
The Chairman of the Legislative Council’s Health Services Panel and the DAB Ge Peifan pointed out that the proposed amendments to this time actually have quite a lot of restrictions. They must be permanent residents of Hong Kong and obtain specialist qualifications.
She pointed out that she had contacted some Hong Kong groups studying in the UK and Australia two years ago and initially assessed that if Hong Kong people studying overseas are allowed to return to practice, about one to two hundred doctors can be recruited each year, but she thinks After nearly two years of changes in social conditions, this number may change.
"There will always be a Hong Kong doctor who will want to return to Hong Kong to practice while taking care of elderly parents. Their needs will always be sizable, but the number of people is expected to be too large."
However, Ge Peifan pointed out: "I don't want to talk about it because this step is too detailed, so I don't want to go ahead." She pointed out that the establishment did not discuss the division of labor later, including who will serve as the chairman of the Bills Committee, etc. However, she and Jiang Liyun, another member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, have always followed up on the issues of overseas doctors and believe they will join the committee.
People in the establishment: the medical profession is determined to oppose the weak and unstoppable motion of the opposition
A member of the establishment who did not want to disclose his identity proposed to "Hong Kong 01" that the proposed amendments to this time are already quite mild, and the medical profession "regardless of reason" opposed to any relaxation of arrangements for overseas doctors to practise in Hong Kong is also expected. It is a foregone conclusion that the government will continue to push forward "although tens of thousands of people will go."
The person assessed that although the medical profession will definitely oppose the amendment, it is expected that the strength will not be too great. The opposition is always weak, and it is difficult for the parliament to explain: "(Member of the medical profession) Chen Peiran does not seem to be a Rab expert. Of course, we will still take precautions."
The establishment also pointed out that the establishment will assess how the amendments have caused opposition in the society and the number of doctors attracted by the amendments, and decide whether they will push the government to further open the way for non-Hong Kong permanent residents to practice medicine in Hong Kong in the future. "There has always been a shortage of doctors in individual specialties for a long time. If the attractiveness is not enough after the amendment, I really have to think of ways to wait for more overseas doctors to come to Hong Kong. Even if they don’t speak Chinese, (public institutions) will spend extra money to help. I would like to ask multiple interpreters to come.” He pointed out that in the current situation, since the anticipation of opposition forces may not become the climate, and the effectiveness of the amendment is limited, the amendment will still support this amendment, but it is expected that the government will continue to ask the government to open up non-compliance. Permanent residents of Hong Kong come to Hong Kong to practice medicine.
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