Legislative Council

LC Paper No. CB(2) 2179/98-99

Ref: CB2/BC/18/98

Purpose

This paper seeks the House Committee's support for a visit to be made by members of the Bills Committee on Chinese Medicine Bill to the No. 2 Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (also known as the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine) in Guangzhou on Sunday, 13 June 1999.

Background

2. The Bills Committee has held nine meetings so far and has met deputations from the medical profession, practitioners, traders and manufacturers of Chinese medicine as well as academics and other interested organizations to listen to their views on the Bill. During these meetings, reference was often made by the Administration and deputations to the practice on the Mainland. In order to better understand the regulation of Chinese medicine and other matters relating to the practice of Chinese medicine in Mainland hospitals, in particular the co-operation between practitioners of Chinese and western medicines in attending patients and the matching efforts of the universities of traditional Chinese medicine in this regard, the Bills Committee agreed at its meeting on 27 May 1999 that, subject to permission of the House Committee, a visit to the No. 2 Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine would be conducted on Sunday, 13 June 1999. A total of nine members have indicated that they wish to join the visit. They will be accompanied by three representatives of the Administration and one staff member of the Legislative Council Secretariat.

Itinerary

3. The itinerary for the visit is attached.

Financial implications

4. The estimated expenditure for the visit is $5,000, which is the cost of hiring a 20-passenger coach. The Bills Committee has considered the option of taking the through train, the cost of which is $3,800 for nine members and one secretariat staff. However, as the first through train leaves Kowloon at 8:50 am while the last train leaves Guangzhou at 5:25 pm, it would only allow a total of six hours in Guangzhou. Furthermore, separate travelling arrangements need to be made for journeys from the railway station to the Hospital and return. In view of the greater flexibility in time and convenience, the Bills Committee prefers the option of hiring a coach for the trip at an all-inclusive charge of $5,000 for the entire visit.

Advice sought

5. Rule 22(t) of the House Rules provides that should any Panel consider it necessary to undertake any activities outside Hong Kong under the name of the Panel of the Council, the prior permission of the House Committee shall be sought. Although there is no similar provision in respect of Bills Committees undertaking activities outside Hong Kong, the House Committee's permission is hereby sought for the proposed visit in line with the spirit of rule 22(t) as an activity outside Hong Kong is involved.

Legislative Council Secretariat
2 June 1999

Date:	13 June 1999
Members of the Delegation:	Legislative Council of Hong Kong Prof Hon NG Ching-fai, Chairman of the Bills Committee 8 Members of the Bills Committee 1 staff member of the Legislative Council Secretariat HKSAR Government Mr Gregory LEUNG Wing-lup Deputy Secretary for Health and Welfare Dr P Y LEUNG Assistant Director of Health Dr LEUNG Ting-hung Assistant Director of Health
Total no. of members:	13
Purpose of the Visit:	To understand the existing mode of practice in Mainland hospitals of traditional Chinese medicine. To understand the cooperation between practitioners of Chinese and Western medicines in attending patients in Mainland hospitals of traditional Chinese medicine. To understand the matching efforts of the Mainland universities of traditional Chinese medicine in fostering the integrated use of Chinese and Western medicines.
Itinerary:
7:30 am	Meet and depart from the car park of the Legislative Council Building.
10:30 am	Arrive at the No.2 Affiliated Hospital of the Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Dadelu, Guangzhou City.
10:30 am - 12:00 noon	Visit the No.2 Affiliated Hospital of the Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm	Lunch
2:30 pm - 3:15 pm	Visit the Ershadao District Hospital of the No.2 Affiliated Hospital of the Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
3:15 pm	Meeting with representatives of the Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and its Affiliated Hospital, and persons concerned with regulation of Chinese medicine.