CE believes in health graduates' devotion to Hong Kong over compulsory govt service

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday, in response to the policy of compulsory public service for healthcare graduates, that he believed in the devotion and professionalism of the city’s health workers. 

"It is an obvious fact that our public health system is facing a loss of manpower," he said, "I believe the professionals hold strong affection for Hong Kong and are willing to serve the society."  

In his Policy Address 2022, Lee raised the government requirement that qualified healthcare professionals must serve in public healthcare institutions for a specified period of time to "help ensure sufficient healthcare manpower for the public healthcare system."  

"Nearly 90 percent of specialist medical services are provided by public hospitals with only less than 50 percent of specialists in service," said Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau showing his support for the policy.  

Young doctors should not switch to the private healthcare sector, he claimed.  

Former Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah argued in a post on his Facebook on Sunday.  

"[The policy] will only lead more medical professionals to leave Hong Kong," he said.