The Pulse：July 1st March, Medical Council reform controversy: discussion with Kwok Ka-ki & Alex Lam

Since the handover Hong Kong’s pro-establishment figures have celebrated July 1st, while many civil society groups have taken to the streets to use this day for protests, most dramatically in 2003 when hundreds of thousands marched to oppose the enactment of Article 23 legislation. This year, in response to the deaths of two firemen in Ngau Tau Kok, official celebrations have been scaled down, but they did continue. So did the annual protest march.
The government says the purpose of proposed Medical Council reforms is to increase transparency and efficiency in handling complaints. Currently there are over 900 complaint cases before the council and it doesn’t always move fast in resolving them. But many medical professionals see at least some of the proposed changes as a Trojan horse, designed to give the Chief Executive more control of the council. On Wednesday, five medical associations, groups and medical students staged a sit-in, calling the reform a “scam”. With us in the studio are doctor and legislator Kwok Ka-ki and Alex Lam, the Chairman of Hong Kong Patient’s Voices.