LegCo to debate adjournment motion on relaxation of internship requirement of non-locally trained specialist doctors by the Medical Council

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (May 22) at 11.30am (or immediately after the meeting for the Chief Executive's Question Time to be held at 11am) in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex.  During the meeting, Mr Tommy Cheung will move a motion for the adjournment of the Council under Rule 16(4) of the Rules of Procedure.  The motion states: "That this Council do now adjourn for the purpose of debating the following issue: the relaxation of the internship requirement of the non-locally trained specialist doctors by the Medical Council of Hong Kong."
 
     Members will also debate a motion on the Report of the Subcommittee to Follow Up Issues Relating to the Unified Screening Mechanism for Non-refoulement Claims.  The motion, moved by Dr Elizabeth Quat, states: "That this Council notes the Report of the Subcommittee to Follow Up Issues Relating to the Unified Screening Mechanism for Non-refoulement Claims."
 
     In addition, Dr Priscilla Leung will move a motion on keeping up with technological development and enhancing the protection of people's privacy.  The motion states: "That serious incidents relating to large-scale leakage of personal privacy and data have occurred many times in Hong Kong, for example the uncovering of the resale of the data of 2.4 million customers by the Octopus Card Limited to other companies for marketing use in 2009, the Registration and Electoral Office's loss of a notebook computer containing the personal data of 3.78 million Geographical Constituencies electors across the territory in 2017, and the leakage of the personal data of 9.4 million passengers by the Cathay Pacific Airways in 2018; the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance came into force in 1996 and the Government only amended the Ordinance once in 2012, and given that the rapid technological development of the Internet, social media, big data, artificial intelligence, etc. has created privacy risks and that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union (EU) has come
into force, the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance has appeared to be even more lagging behind and its personal data privacy protection is apparently inadequate; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to keep up with technological development and comprehensively review the policy on personal data privacy protection, so as to enhance the protection of people's privacy; the relevant proposals include:

1. by drawing reference from EU's GDPR and the relevant laws of other jurisdictions, amending the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance expeditiously and comprehensively, including requiring data users to notify the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) and data subjects of any data leakage incidents within a specified timeframe and raising the penalty to enhance the deterrent effect;
 
2. conferring on PCPD the power to exercise administrative penalties (such as fines);

3. requiring all government departments and public and private organisations to review their policies on processing personal data and security precautions, so as to avoid the recurrence of infringement of people's personal data privacy; and

4. enhancing public promotion to raise the understanding and awareness of the people as well as of public and private organisations on protecting and respecting personal data privacy."

     Mr Alvin Yeung, Mr Charles Mok and Dr Elizabeth Quat will move separate amendments to Dr Priscilla Leung's motion.

     During the meeting, Members will also ask the Government 21 questions on various policy areas, 6 of which require oral replies.

     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk).  Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found on the LegCo Website.

     Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the LegCo Complex.  They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours.  Members of the public can also watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.