Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing- man will make a last-minute appeal and meet with lawmakers today in an attempt to have the controversial Medical Council reform bill passed this week.

However, the government said it will not accept Kwok Ka-ki's amendments - which some pan-democrats said would be crucial for their support - and stick to its guns.

"For lawmakers who support the bill, we would discuss how to make sure the bill's discussion would not be affected by ongoing filibustering and quorum calls," Ko said yesterday.

The bill's second reading debate was suspended last Wednesday due to the lack of a quorum. It resumes tomorrow.

Ko would also bargain for support from lawmakers who oppose the bill, or do not have a clear stance.

"Undeniably, there were unfounded worries circulating several days before the second reading of the bill last week. It also raised a political concern: would supporting the bill mean supporting the government and its control [over the Medical Council]? We want to explain that these worries are not based on facts," Ko said.

A government source said Kwok's proposal of replacing four appointed doctors with four elected doctors would increase the ratio of elected doctors to 18:14 in the Medical Council. It would upset the balance of elected doctors and appointed members, which the government said is unacceptable. Medical sector lawmaker Leung Ka-lau said the government had yet to contact him for discussions, and would not rule out more quorum calls tomorrow.

Meanwhile, patients rights groups will hold another protest at the Legislative Council complex tomorrow morning, and they hope to communicate with the opposing lawmakers before the meeting resumes.

Alex Lam Chi-yau, chairman of Hong Kong Patients' Voices, said doctors' concerns over government control of the Medical Council was understandable.

"We have all seen the chief executive's performance in the last four years, but I hope the public can also look into how the lay members will be chosen," Lam said.

He estimated that the number of complaints against doctors will shoot up to 2,340 in four years if the reform is rejected.