July 2010

One of the biggest events in the previous weeks was the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  The 19^th World Cup started on June 11.  For a whole month, the soccer fans were lacking sleep for sure.  I tried not to disturb my daily life by skipping the late night matches.  It was not until the quarter finals; I went to bed early and woke up in the middle of the night for the matches.  As for the venues, this year I had watched the matches at home, in bars, in karaoke, and even in conference rooms in Japan.  There were sixty four matches altogether.  What was the most exciting part of the event?  It was the unpredictability of the results of some of the matches.  I was actually writing this article at the very last minute so as to update readers on the latest results (and of course the hidden reason was that I had to support my team during these days).  The last game was just over.  I felt sorry for the orange; the bull won the championship at the end.    

Another imperative happening in this month was the HKMA Council Election.  As excited as the soccer matches, the candidates for different posts were very competitive.  Seeing that there were two candidates for the post of President, they had their cabinet nominees, who were fighting for the posts of Vice President, Honorary Treasurer and Council Member.  While door to door canvassing efforts and numbers of election campaigns had been scheduled within weeks, there was a growing tension between cabinets.  So who would be the next President finally?  We don’t need Paul the Octopus to tell.  By the time you receive the News, you should have known the answer. 

Just about that time, there comes another occasion.  The HKMA Annual Charity Concert will be held on July 31.  This year’s concert is an extraordinary one.  Why do I say so?  First of all, the year 2010 marks the 90^th Anniversary of the HKMA.  The Charity Concert would certainly be one of the celebration highlights.  The next exceptional thing is that the beneficiary of this charity event is not any benevolent organizations in Hong Kong.  It is the HKMA Beat Drugs Action Committee (BDAC). 

The BDAC was newly formed this year with the aim of promotion and coordination of beat drugs activities in the medical profession.  In reaction to the alarming statistics of ever rising numbers of young drug abusers and the leadership of the Chief Executive, there have been inputs and efforts from members of the society including doctors.  Both the HKMA and individual doctors have been organizing and taking part in various beat drugs activities with promising results.  However, beating drugs and helping drug abusers require long term coordinated work with constant review and input of resources.  It is under these backgrounds that the HKMA sees the need to form a new committee.  The BDAC will be looked after by designated staff to plan, organize, coordinate and review beat drugs activities involving doctors in order to strengthen the role of the medical professions in the team work of beating drugs.  Coming works of the BDAC include organizing more beat drugs courses for more attendants; organizing in-depth hand-on trainings; coordinating and evaluating the project between the Home Affairs Department and the HKMA Community Networks to help young drug abusers; piloting the use of group therapies in young drug abusers; and providing public educations.

Very soon we will be having the first HKMA Public Education Day.  The “Beat Drug Stars Brighten the Community” (抗毒之星耀社區) will be held on July 25, 2010 (Sunday) at Olympic City II.  As the organizer, we are grateful for having twenty co-organizing and supporting bodies (including hospital, school, NGOs, partent-teacher associations etc.).  There will be on stage performances (such as lion dance, singing, dancing, talk show, live band, martial arts etc.), medical booths and game booths.  Some of our members are performers or voluntary workers.  You are very welcome to come and support us.

It is appreciative that the HKMA and HKMA Charitable Foundation greatly support our Committee.  The donations raised for the Concert will be reserved for beat drugs activities organized by the BDAC.  The Committee will fully utilize its resources and efforts to tackle the youth drug abuses by encouraging doctor’s engagements.

To give a hand to the young drug abusers, please do support the BDAC.  It’s never too late.  Make a donation now! 

 (Source: HKMA News July 2010)