Hong Kong Medical Council rejects proposal on time frame for handling complaints

Hong Kong’s medical watchdog has said a target time frame for handling complaints will not be necessary as it presented its rebuttal against a government proposal that includes major reforms to its operations, disciplinary sentencing, internal supervision and membership make-up.The Medical Council on Tuesday presented its views on the government’s proposed amendments, which were first laid out in late June and aimed to speed up the watchdog’s process and accountability in handling complaints.In a written submission to the Legislative Council’s bills committee on the medical registration amendment bill, dated Tuesday and uploaded to the Legco website the next day, the Medical Council’s chairwoman Professor Grace Tang Wai-king said a dedicated working group had been established to study the details of the bill and assess its implications for the watchdog’s operations.