Leong Che-hung, a former authority chairman who steers the committee on doctors' working hours, stressed that the proposal was aimed at improving doctors' working environment while maintaining the quality of medical services.

'Long working hours can affect the doctors' judgment and capability, which is bad for patients. The doctors' quality of life and their family life will be affected as well,' he said. 'We would like to propose a series of measures to reduce the doctors' working hours to a reasonable level.'

The committee suggested doctors should not work more than 65 hours a week in general or more than 13 to 16 hours continuously.

Now, about 18 per cent of public doctors work more than 65 hours a week. About 400 doctors are on call throughout the night - this meant more than half worked 24 to 36 hours continuously.

Dr Leong said the proposal did not mean those working less than 65 hours a week would have to extend their working hours.

'We hope all doctors will benefit from the reform instead of it benefiting a few at expense of the others.'

He said the guidelines would be flexible and based on practical needs because in some departments, such as the surgical department, it was common for doctors to work continuously or long hours.

The committee also proposed that doctors should be paid for working hours outside their conditions of employment and that manpower should be increased for certain clinical specialties.

Allen Cheung Wai-lun, the authority's director for cluster services, said some medical services would have to be restructured.

For example, the authority may cut down on non-urgent surgery at night and expand evening services.

After the consultation, Dr Cheung said the committee would calculate how much additional money and staff the reform would need. A full report will be submitted to the authority's board in September.

Paul Shea Tat-ming, the president of the Hong Kong Public Doctors Association, welcomed the proposal but said there were fears 65 hours a week would become the standard instead of a cap.

Tim Pang Hung-cheong, spokesman for the Society for Community Organisation, agreed that shortening doctors' working hours would be good for both doctors and patients as long as standards were maintained.

Easing the strain

The Hospital Authority aims to improve doctors' working environment while maintaining quality of services

According to the Hospital Authority, the recommended maximum working hours per week for a doctor at a public hospital in Australia is 70

in Britain 56