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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 2277
OF 171257Z JULY 91
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19 J-991
LORD CAITHNESS'S VISIT TO HONG KONG: REQUEST FOR MEETING FROM DR C.H. LEONG
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076367
MDHIAN 5707
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1. DR C.H. LEONG, THE LEGCO REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MEDICAL FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY, HAS ASKED IF HE COULD HAVE A BRIEF MEETING WITH LORD CAITHNESS DURING THE MINISTER'S VISIT TO HONG KONG NEXT WEEK. HE WOULD LIKE TO BRING WITH HIM THE DEANS OF THE MEDICAL FACULTIES OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY AND THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG MEDICAL COUNCIL AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
2. THE DELEGATION WOULD LIKE TO RAISE WITH LORD CAITHNESS THE PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD IN THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL PAPER ENTITLED 'PROPOSALS FOR A SINGLE FORM OF REGISTRATION FOR ALL OVERSEAS QUALIFIED DOCTORS'. OUR TWO MEDICAL SCHOOLS HAVE FOR MANY YEARS ENJOYED A HIGH STANDING WITH THE COUNCIL AND THEIR GRADUATES HAVE LONG BEEN RECOGNISED FOR FULL REGISTRATION. THE COUNCIL PROPOSALS WILL NOW GROUP THEM TOGETHER WITH OTHER UNIVERSITIES WHO ARE AT PRESENTL ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR LIMITED REGISTRATION. THIS HAS CAUSED CONSIDERABLE CONCERN HERE, BOTH IN THE TWO UNIVERSITIES AND MORE WIDELY AMONG THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN HONG KONG. IN MY CAPACITY AS CHANCELLOR OF THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, I WROTE TO THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL ON 1 MARCH, BUT TO NO AVAIL.
3. COPIES OF THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL PAPER, MY LETTER OF 1 MARCH AND THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR'S REPLIES DATED 18 MARCH AND 4 JUNE ARE BEING FAXED TO PAUL, HKD.
4. AS THIS IS VERY MUCH A U K MATTER, INVOLVING APPROVAL BY THE PRIVY COUNCIL, I RECOMMEND THAT LORD CAITHNESS SHOULD AGREE TO SEE THE DELEGATION BRIEFLY. THIS COULD BE FITTED IN AT 4.30 P.M. ON THURSDAY, 25 JULY AFTER HIS VISIT TO THE BRITISH COUNCIL.
WILSON
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