From the Editor

For the past few months, over hundred nominated candidates vigorously fought for 60 seats in the Legislative Council for a four-year term of office from 2008.  After copious numbers of election campaigns and canvassing efforts over a long period of time, the battle finally came to an end on 7 September 2008.  Dr. LEUNG Ka Lau won his seat in the Medical Functional Constituency.  He received 2,217 votes for approximately 33%.  (Dr. HO Pak Leung - 2,138 votes; Dr. KWOK Ka Ki - 1,869 votes & Dr. YEUNG Chiu Fat - 580 votes).  For other doctors taking part in the election, Dr. PAN Pey Chyou was elected uncontested in one of the three seats of the Labour Functional Constituency.  Dr. SHIH Tai Cho and Dr. LO Wing Lok, two nominated candidates from Hong Kong Island geographical constituency, did not succeed in the election.

As the new Editor, I mentioned in the last issue that I would like to add some new elements into the HKMA News.  Here, I am going to get started with a special feature: “Interview with Dr. LEUNG Ka Lau”.  Based on the new insight about the functions of a bridge, I intend to provide readers a chance to view Dr. LEUNG from a different angle.  I invited Dr. LEUNG for an interview straight after the Legco election.  Preparation time was very short (3 days).  My original plan was to allow interviewees to choose the restaurant and food they felt affection for, as I believe in the old saying “You are what you eat”.  However, the prior arrangement of this interview was so tight.  I then decided to dine with Dr. LEUNG in the Association (Wanchai) Club House.  This was surely a good choice, as it provided an opportunity to promote our Club House.  Arranged by Mrs. Yvonne LEUNG, our Secretariat CE, a special menu was designed for Dr. LEUNG so as to feature Chef WONG’s signature dishes.  A special note of thanks should also be given to Dr. Amy PANG, an award-winning professional photographer, to take photographs for us.  

Initially, I planned to give my “signature bear” to Dr. LEUNG as a souvenir.  My bear’s hands were tied by a stethoscope, signifying the constraints faced by family doctors in the practice of medicine in HK.  After the interview, I changed my mind.  I took away the stethoscope and wished that Dr. Leung’s hands would not be tied in the coming four years.  And a bear with the wordings “More Than Words” on its foot was chosen to reflect our wishes.

Another observation after the interview was that there was much room for communication between Dr. LEUNG and family doctors, and we should put more effort in this aspect.  It was clearly brought up in Food and Health Bureau healthcare reform consultation document “Your Life Your Health” that Family Medicine should be promoted.  However, we have great uncertainties about what will be done.  Concerning this matter, the HKMA CME Committee is working on a new task.  We are restructuring our “Continual Medical Education Programme for practising doctors who are not taking Continue Medical Education programme for specialists”, the official name that I hate to refer to.  Let’s refer to it as CME for family doctors.  Core module with seminars and workshops on family medicine would be provided.  Participants are encouraged to take all the seminars and workshops in the core module in a three year cycle.  Together with other activities concerning different specialties attended, these CME records are kept in a portfolio provided by the HKMA.  This serves as evidence of CME activities and some basic training in family medicine.  

At the end of August, the Beijing Olympics 2008 ended with massive viewership.   China’s Olympic tally (51 Gold; 21 Silver; 28 Bronze; 100 Total) solidified its status as a sports powerhouse.  In this issue, we have several articles talking about the Beijing Olympics.  Our Past President, Dr. CHOI Kin presented his unique view on the closing, while our Council Member, Dr. LI Sum Wo reported on the opening.  Dr. CHAN Man Kam, also our Council Member, shared with us his feelings on the Olympics in poems, joining the increasing number of poem-writers in the News. 

(Source: HKMA News September 2008)