Ko Wing-man says the government respects the autonomy of the Medical Council of Hong Kong. File photo: RTHK
The Secretary for Food and Health, Ko Wing-man, said on Friday that the government has no intention of getting into a power struggle with the medical sector, as it proposes reforms to the Medical Council of Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Medical Association has threatened to organise a strike in opposition to government plans to add four lay members to the council which investigates complaints against doctors. The administration's proposal came after the council took nine years to resolve a complaint about professional misconduct by a doctor.
Ko insisted that the government respects the autonomy of the medical sector and is only planning to table legal changes to enable the four lay members to be added to the council because of a similar proposal from Liberal Party lawmaker, Tommy Cheung, who represents the catering sector in the Legislative Council.
Cheung had said he is concerned about the council's efficiency and adding the additional members to it could help.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1235978-20160115.htm
