National security law and coronavirus put Hong Kong students of Chinese medicine ‘in fear of mainland China internships’

Some final-year students said to be planning to defer their studies to avoid having to take part in this year’s mandatory placements over the border

At least two city universities told students of the returning internships, which are required under medical regulations

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Chinese medicine students at Chinese University are among those who have been told that mandatory placements over the border are returning. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 9:00am, 15 Sep 2020Updated: 9:00am, 15 Sep 2020

Several Chinese medicine students in Hong Kong plan to defer their studies over safety fears related to the coronavirus pandemic and national security law, after city universities decided to restart their compulsory internship programmes in mainland China.

Students from Chinese University (CUHK) and Baptist University told the Post dozens of their final-year peers, who under medical regulations must undergo no less than 30 weeks of clinical training, were expected to head over the border later this month for quarantine.

Both of the Hong Kong institutions told students last week the mandatory placements, which were interrupted by the Covid-19 crisis, would be resuming.

The Post has been told the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong, the statutory body responsible for implementing regulatory measures, would not accept internships completed in Hong Kong. Students must complete the training before sitting their licensing exams next year.

Andrew Chan, a sixth-year Chinese medicine student, says some students at Baptist University are weighing up whether to defer their studies. Photo: Edward Wong

About 25 students studying the bachelor’s programme at CUHK were expected to take their clinical internships in Shenzhen or Guangzhou. They would have to be tested for the coronavirus and undergo two weeks of quarantine from late September before the start of their 30-week internship from October 9, according to an itinerary issued to students.