HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor speaks during the Chief Executive's Question and Answer Session at the LegCo on Feb 4,2021.  (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Hong Kong’s government will propose five legislative amendments this year that aim to help resolve long-standing issues in the city such as an acute shortage of doctors needed to treat an aging population, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Thursday.

Lam said during a question and answer session in the Legislative Council that the government will propose allowing qualified overseas-trained doctors to practice in Hong Kong.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the government will propose allowing qualified overseas-trained doctors to practice in Hong Kong

ALSO READ: Why not import workers to fix labor shortage

Eligibility requirements would include possessing Hong Kong permanent residency status, a recognized overseas medical degree and having served a significant period of time in public healthcare systems, Lam said without specifying a time frame for public healthcare service.

Lam also pledged to submit amendments to better crack down on malicious personal information leakage, introduce rent control of subdivided, residential units and strengthen fire safety in old buildings.

READ MORE: The doctor’s no longer at the door

Earlier, the government proposed to require district councilors to swear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and pledged to submit a draft amendment to the legislature after the Spring Festival. Lam said related work was almost finished.