Exit Assessment refers to the assessment that is performed after the completion of 6 years of training. After debating at several Council Meetings, Council has agreed on our format of Exit Assessment and this was subsequently approved by Academy. Essentially after 1st October 1998, all applicants for Fellowship of our College, save Honorary Fellowship, shall be required to undergo the Exit Assessment. The format of the Assessment is outlined elsewhere in this Newsletter and those who are not yet Fellows are strongly advised to read the document carefully. If you know of anyone practising anaesthesia in Hong Kong fulfilling all the criteria for admission to College Fellowship but has not done so, please advise him or her to do so before 1st October 1998. Otherwise, one will need an Exit Assessment before admission is possible. This is especially important for those who wants to be registered as a specialist with the Medical Council as the Hong Kong Medical Council will be inviting applications to register with the specialist register in the next few weeks. In the context of Exit Assessment, the College Administrative Instructions for Admission Ad Eundem has also been modified accordingly. A project requirement has also been added.What about those who are in possession of recognised overseas qualifications but cannot fulfill the other requirements for Fellowship admission on 1st October 1998, like the requirement to have 6 years of training. With the rescindment of Bylaw 16, private practice will no longer be counted on a 3 year practice to 1 year training basis. Practitioners in private practice possessing qualifications recognised by the Colleges will have difficulty meeting the 6 years of training requirement after that date. Academy has resolved that those College members who intend to become College and Academy Fellows but unable to do so before 1st October 1998 because of insufficient training duration must register their intention with the College before 1st October 1998. College will then discuss with the respective applicant how much training they are short and come up with a remedial training programme. This remedial programme has to be approved by the Academy. All of those undertaking the remedial programme have to undergo the Exit Assessment before College and Academy can admit them as Fellows. These are important issues. I can appreciate that there would be further questions and queries concerning Exit Assessment and registering with the College for remedial training. Please do not hesitate to contact me or Dr. P.T. Chui, Hon. Secretary or Dr. T.W. Lee, Chairman of Board of Education if you have further queries. I hope I have not disturbed your mood to enjoy Christmas and New Year. May I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and a prosperous 1998.

Dr. CT Hung
(President)

Pain Management Committee
Eligible Members or Fellows of the Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists are welcome to join the training programme leading to Diploma in Pain Management.
The training reguirments are summarised as follows:
1. All trainee must register for training with the HKCA Pain Management Committee
2. Trainee must be a Fellow of HKCA or in the sixth year of the HKCA vocational trianing
3. Board of Censors will recommend granting of Diploma in Pain Management by the HKCA Council after trainnee has :
3.1 completed one year full time training in pain management
3.2 submitted evidence of training in form of log book
3.3 completed a formal project
3.4 passed a writtern examination
(Further details can be obtained from the Chairman of Pain Management Committee - Professor Joseph Yang of the Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Hong Kong).

Education Committee
The Hong Kong Academy has rescinded bylaw 16 after a postal ballot. As a result of that, no fellow can be admitted without an exit assessment. While this will be applied to applications of fellowship ad eundem, the same procedure must be applied to our trainees who are admitted by examination. Otherwise the College may be challenged for unfairness.After much deliberation, the Council has adopted an administrative instruction on Exit Assessment that was acceptable to the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine and does not add too much extra hurdle for local trainees. This document is circulated in this newsletter. A meeting with Supervisors of Training will be held to explain any queries.

Tuen Mun Hospital is requesting approval for increases in the number of training posts. The information is being looked at and results will be forthcoming.

Kwong Wah Hospital has been reviewed on the 17^th November,1997 for its anaesthesiology and intensive care training. Determination of approval will be forthcoming next newsletter.

United Christian Hospital is requesting approval for increases in the number of training posts. The information is being looked at and results will be forthcoming.

Duchess of Kent Childrens’ Hospital has been approved for one training post for a period of a minimum of six months up to a maximum period of 12 months, provided a rotational training programme exists with Queen Mary Hospital anaesthesiology division. It will be regarded as a Category C hospital specialising in surgery for children, & orthopaedics.

Diploma in Pain Management
The 12th congregation was incorporated into the Annual Scientific Meeting in Anaesthesiology 1997 and the highlights were admitting Dr Cheung Po Wa as Fellow in Intensive Care (by Examination), and awarding Diploma in Pain Management (ad eundem) to the following Fellows :

Examination Successes

Examination in Anaesthesiology
In 1997, two Intermediate Examinations and one Final Examination of HKCA were held. 6 members were successful at the July/August 97 Intermediate Examination. Dr Lam Wang Leuk has been awarded the medal for achieving the highest mark in the above examination.

Chief of Service
Dr HK Cheng - Ruttonjee Hospital