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The Government has the power to employ unregistered doctors who received their education from abroad. During the post-war period, quite a number of unregistered medical practitioners were employed and their service proved satisfactory.
This is an effective method with immediate result. In Hong Kong, as there are around 2000 doctors from Mainland China, it will not be difficult to select 200-300 such doctors and place them in Government hospitals to meet the existing pressing demand.
(2) To expand the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, or to make plans for more medical faculties to cope with the demands in the long run.
The University of Hong Kong admits 150 medical students every year which is the maximum to maintain desired results. It is rather ridiculous that after eight years' planning, the Chinese University only admits 60 new medical students. Taking into account the spatial capacity of the Chinese University and the urgent demand for doctors, the number of students should be increased to 150. Besides, as we are all aware, there should be no problem of selecting well-qualified candidates or acquiring ample equipment. We cannot say that there are problems at this.
(3) To improve the licentiate examination system.
At present, the licentiate examination for medical practitioners in Hong Kong consists of three parts. A candidate has to pass the written paper before taking the oral test and only those who have passed the oral test can sit for the English paper. Furthermore, the examination is held only once a year. All this is obviously far from reasonable. If Hong Kong can follow the example of countries like England and Canada where candidates have to take only one test, and if more examinations are held each year, more eligible medical practitioners can be made qualified to alleviate the situation.
It is not unreasonable, I believe, that such doctors should serve the Government for a few years after they have passed the licentiate examination.
Where does the Urban Council go?
Finally, I would like to say something about the Council.
I have served the Council for 15 years and I have a feeling that it is getting worse and worse year by year.
As a district council, the Urban Council's terms of reference are the most diminutive in the world. Rather than having any improvement, the situation deteriorates.
What has happened since all the Official Members withdrew from the Council in 1973:
(1) The Housing Authority of the Council which has for many years been responsible for one of the Council's major roles, namely, public housing, has been reorganized into an independent body. Although out of the twenty members of this reorganized Hong Kong Housing Authority, eight are members of this Council, the ratio is still relatively small. Furthermore, although there are six sub-committees in the Housing Authority, officers of the Housing Department always 'do whatever they want'. Very often, they commence a project before they bring it to the attention of the sub-committees, or sometimes even do not bother to refer it to the sub-committees.
(2) In the past decades, Urban Councillors could, at the monthly meetings, voice their opinions on whatever important issues in Hong Kong. This is of even greater significance in the Legislative Council where all Members are appointed. But a few years ago, it was so heartbreaking that we ourselves stipulated such restrictions that members could only speak on matters within the jurisdiction of the Council. As a result, our chances of touching on other topics were reduced from twelve times to once every year at this Conventional Debate. Therefore, the Council is only of little importance in the eyes of the general public.
(3) Jurisdiction of the Council falls, in short, in the categories of environmental public health, recreation and amenities. In 1971, the Government's White Paper on Urban Council praised and termed the Council's achievement in environmental, recreational and cultural services as the best. But in 1973, the Government set up the 'Council for Recreation and Sport', the terms of reference of which are not much different from those of the Council. Then in 1977, the Education Department also set up the Music Administrator's Office and its work in some area overlaps with that of the Council.
In January last year, the Home Affairs Branch absorbed the Council for Recreation and Sport and the Music Administrator's Office to form the Recreation and Culture Division, thus formally entering into rivalry with the Council, the Urban Services Department and the New Territories Services Department.
By comparison, the rivalry of power by hooks and by crooks is not so deplorable as the waste of public money owing to staff redundancy and work duplications. But it is a waste of public money which we cannot tolerate.
(4) In 1966, the Recommendation on Restructuring published by the Council and a report on district administration made by the Colonial Secretary both stipulated the need to firstly expand the jurisdiction of the Council, to
Page 88 of 146
Page 88 of 146
Page 88 of 146
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
133
132
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Government has the power to employ unregistered doctors who received their education from abroad. During the post-war period, quite a number of unregistered medical practitioners were employed and their service proved satisfactory.
This is an effective method with immediate result. In Hong Kong, as there are around 2000 doctors from Mainland China, it will not be difficult to select 200-300 such doctors and place them in Government hospitals to meet the existing pressing demand.
(2) To expand the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, or to make plans for more medical faculties to cope with the demands in the long run.
The University of Hong Kong admits 150 medical students every year which is the maximum to maintain desired results. It is rather ridiculous that after eight years' planning, the Chinese University only admits 60 new medical students. Taking into account the spatial capacity of the Chinese University and the urgent demand for doctors, the number of students should be increased to 150. Besides, as we are all aware, there should be no problem of selecting well-qualified candidates or acquiring ample equipment. We cannot say that there are problems at this.
(3) To improve the licentiate examination system.
At present, the licentiate examination for medical practitioners in Hong Kong consists of three parts. A candidate has to pass the written paper before taking the oral test and only those who have passed the oral test can sit for the English paper. Furthermore, the examination is held only once a year. All this is obviously far from reasonable. If Hong Kong can follow the example of countries like England and Canada where candidates have to take only one test, and if more examinations are held each year, more eligible medical practitioners can be made qualified to alleviate the situation.
It is not unreasonable, I believe, that such doctors should serve the Government for a few years after they have passed the licentiate examination.
Where does the Urban Council go?
Finally, I would like to say something about the Council.
I have served the Council for 15 years and I have a feeling that it is getting worse and worse year by year.
As a district council, the Urban Council's terms of reference are the most diminutive in the world. Rather than having any improvement, the situation deteriorates.
What has happened since all the Official Members withdrew from the Council in 1973:
(1) The Housing Authority of the Council which has for many years been responsible for one of the Council's major roles, namely, public housing, has been reorganized into an independent body. Although out of the twenty members of this reorganized Hong Kong Housing Authority, eight are members of this Council, the ratio is still relatively small. Furthermore, although there are six sub-committees in the Housing Authority, officers of the Housing Department always 'do whatever they want'. Very often, they commence a project before they bring it to the attention of the sub- committees, or sometimes even do not bother to refer it to the sub- committees.
(2) In the past decades, Urban Councillors could, at the monthly meetings, voice their opinions on whatever important issues in Hong Kong. This is of even greater significance in the Legislative Council where all Members are appointed. But a few years ago, it was so heartbreaking that we ourselves stipulated such restrictions that members could only speak on matters within the jurisdiction of the Council. As a result, our chances of touching on other topics were reduced from twelve times to once every year at this Conventional Debate. Therefore, the Council is only of little importance in the eyes of the general public.
(3) Jurisdiction of the Council falls, in short, in the categories of environ- mental public health, recreation and amenities. In 1971, the Government's White Paper on Urban Council praised and termed the Council's achievement in environmental, recreational and cultural services as the best. But in 1973, the Government set up the 'Council for Recreation and Sport', the terms of reference of which are not much different from those of the Council. Then in 1977, the Education Department also set up the Music Administrator's Office and its work in some area overlaps with that of the Council.
In January last year, the Home Affairs Branch absorbed the Council for Recreation and Sport and the Music Administrator's Office to form the Recreation and Culture Division, thus formally entering into rivalry with the Council, the Urban Services Department and the New Territories Services Department.
By comparison, the rivalry of power by hooks and by crooks is not so deplorable as the waste of public money owing to staff redundancy and work duplications. But it is a waste of public money which we cannot tolerate.
(4) In 1966, the Recommendation on Restructuring published by the Council and a report on district administration made by the Colonial Secretary both stipulated the need to firstly expand the jurisdiction of the Council, to
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