Health chief rules out further concessions ahead of Legco meeting as medics threaten second sit-in

The health minister says the government will not make further concessions on a proposal to reform the doctors' watchdog, despite medical practitioners threatening another sit-in.

A government bill to add four lay people to the Medical Council, the body that licenses and disciplines doctors, will resume a second reading in the Legislative Council tomorrow after last week's meeting was suspended as too few lawmakers were present.

Several doctors' groups will stage a rally outside Legco. The lawmaker for the medical sector, Dr Leung Ka-lau, said he would continue to make quorum calls. Last week Leung made several calls for a quorum - the minimum number of lawmakers that must be present - which eventually led to the adjournment at around 6.30pm with one lawmaker short.

Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man said he was making a last-ditch effort to lobby support from different parties, but he stressed the government had made enough concessions.

"There was always a majority of lawmakers supporting the government bill, until a few days before the Legco meeting last Wednesday," Ko said yesterday. "The change came after some doctors raised concerns that were not entirely founded on facts. I will try my best to explain and clarify."

The Medical Registration Bill, which would allow the chief executive to appoint more members to the council, requires the backing of half of all lawmakers.

Doctors fear it would allow government supporters to control the body. They also worry that appointees would relax standards for overseas or mainland doctors to work in the city.

A source close to the situation said the government would not endorse a proposal by the Civic Party's Kwok Ka-ki to add four extra doctors, elected by all medical practitioners, into the council alongside the four lay people.