The Health Bureau said it received the report from the Medical Council of Hong Kong on improving its complaint handling mechanism today.

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau said that healthcare professions uphold professional autonomy premised on the trust of members of the public.

He pointed out that as the statutory regulatory body of the medical profession, the council is empowered under the Medical Registration Ordinance to handle registration and disciplinary matters of medical practitioners, and bears the main responsibility to uphold the professional standard and ethical conduct of doctors.

Members of the council must actively discharge their duties and fulfil their mission of ensuring justice, maintaining professionalism and protecting the public, with a view to maintaining public trust in the medical profession.

Prof Lo noted that the bureau is examining the council's report in detail and will request the council to provide clarifications and further information regarding its content, including the council's monitoring mechanism over the progress of the Preliminary Investigation Committee and Inquiry Panel in handling complaints, as well as their respective roles in monitoring case progress.

He added that if the council raises any comment on the performance of its secretary in providing administrative support, the Department of Health will conduct an investigation based on the content of the council's report, including whether to commence disciplinary proceedings against individual staff members. The Government will announce the next phase of work at an appropriate juncture.

The bureau will introduce amendments to the ordinance in response to the recommendations of the report and based on the operational need of the council, targeting to introduce an amendment bill into the Legislative Council in the first half of next year.

The bureau will begin consultation work with the sector and stakeholders next month on amending the ordinance and enhancing the council's complaint handling mechanism and will meet with stakeholders such as professional organisations and patient groups to listen to their views.