Hong Kong reforms Medical Council to increase lay member proportion and publicize case timelines

Hong Kong plans to reform its Medical Council, aiming to boost lay members to over one-third and to make complaint resolution timelines public. This significant change comes after a 15-year delay in handling a complaint against Dr. Sit Sou-chi, whose actions in 2009 led to a boy's permanent disability.

BRIC Team

Jun 24, 2026 · 1 min read · 4 views

Hong Kong reforms Medical Council to increase lay member proportion and publicize case timelines

Key Takeaways

•The Medical Council's overhaul will increase lay members to over one-third, enhancing public involvement in medical governance.
•A complaint against Dr. Sit Sou-chi, which began in 2009, took 15 years to address, highlighting systemic delays.
•Proposed amendments to the Medical Registration Ordinance will be introduced to the Legislative Council within two weeks.
•Currently, the Medical Council comprises 24 doctors and eight lay members, but reforms aim to change this composition significantly.
•Lawmakers were briefed on the changes starting Wednesday, indicating a push for improved transparency and accountability in medical oversight.

Hong Kong plans to revamp its Medical Council, hoping to improve how complaints against doctors are handled. Proposed changes would boost lay members on council to over one-third and require public disclosure of complaint resolution timelines . This comes after a disturbing 15-year delay dealing with complaint against Dr. Sit Sou-chi,whose 2009 actions left a boy permanently disabled.

Amendments to the Medical Registration Ordinance are expected before the Legislative Council in two weeks. Lawmakers,stakeholders briefed on changes starting Wednesday. An insider said reforms aim to keep professional autonomy while making council more effective . Focus is on transparency,accountability within medical oversight.

Now,the Medical Council has 24 doctors,eight lay members. Proposed changes would shake up this mix,showing more public involvement in medical governance. Part of bigger push to regain public trust in medical regulation after high-profile cases raised doubts about council's effectiveness...