Doctors fail new exams

More than 90 per cent of overseas-trained doctors - mostly mainlanders - have failed new licensing exams.

Doctors from Britain, Australia and other Commonwealth countries applying to practise in the territory were required to sit the exams for the first time in more than 150 years.

Under changes to the Medical Registration Ordinance, they are required to pass the Medical Council's licensing exam and practical training period. But only seven per cent of candidates who sat the exam in professional knowledge were up to scratch.

And just more than half the number who sat the test in medical English proficiency last month received a pass mark.

The exams were in danger of making Hong Kong a 'laughing stock', Medical Council member Dr David Anderson said.

However, the number of multiple-choice questions in the exam had doubled, making it slightly harder, he said.