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Restless meeting can be deadly, says doctor

The Young Reporter (2008, May), 40(08), pp. 2.
Author: Isa Kwok Ling. Editor: Timmy Sung Shiu-chung.
Permanent URL - https://sys01.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/bujspa/purl.php?&did=bujspa0007418

By ISA KWOK LING

Long-hour consultation meeting at local universities is a common practice before the new cabinet of the academic or interest society is formally recognised and formed, but a doctor said the round-the-clock meeting without a rest could be fatal.

Dr Choi Ho-yin, the Medical Director of the CHC Group Medical Practice, replied The Young Reporter in an email pointing out that serious and fatal complications would result because of extreme exhaustion.

He explained that extreme exhaustion would deplete body reserve of glucose and various metabolic pathways would come into play to maintain bodily functions, adding that dizziness, fainting and weakness would be the major symptoms of such exhaustion.

However, there were students who are still willing to take the risk.

Three Hong Kong Baptist University’s students Grace Kwok Wing-chi, Lu Lin Lu-ching and Mic Yeung Ling-fai, from the Communication Society, sent to hospital in the mid-night on March 8 when they were having the consultation meeting. Kwok was fainted during the meeting.

After doctor's diagnose, Lin was found suffering from high blood pressure. The doctor advised them to take more rest. But in the evening of March 9, they went back to the school and resumed the meeting.

“We cannot absent from the meeting for so long,” Kwok said, “this would affect the flow of the meeting.”

“We are one of the members and we should not escape from that and leave others alone.” Lin added.

Apart from physical illness, all of them admitted that they were under pressure and nervous about their performance in the meeting. They said that the image you showed in the meeting is a representation of the whole cabinet’s attitude and ability so they have to keep being attentive and intelligent.

The duration of consultation meeting in different universities and different societies varies. They rise from several hours to nearly hundred hours. But there is a trend of increasing meeting hours. This year, the Communication Society’s meeting made her new record of lasting for 96 hours.

Ross Ng Yin-ngai, the chairperson of the union council of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, said a new rule is issued to restrict units under the student union. “When a meeting lasted for 18 hours, a break of 8 hours must be provided.”

Dr Choi also suggested that there should be at least a 10 minute-break for every 120 minutes of meeting.

Ng also mentioned a poll that held in the PolyU on the issue about whether holding consultation meetings over 24 hours should be abolished. She said 40 percent of the PolyU students voted and over half of them agreed on the motion.

“Yet, the result cannot make any change to the current situation but only as public opinion,” Ng said.

Prof Huang Yu, Department of Journalism head at Baptist as well as the advisor of the Communication Society, commented that students of the cabinet kept sleeping in class and some of them even absent for school. “It is a really bad result.”

He expressed his sadness towards the incident and strongly suggested a regulation of the format and recommended a 10-hour consultation meeting which only discuss on essential topics and in the whole to achieve an idea exchange.

“We (the administrative level] let the students to deal with the problem because it is their own business and we expect they can manage as being a university student. We don’t want to interfere it but we hope this will not happen again next year.”

After all, these three students still believed that this incident not only brought them drawbacks but also unexpected benefits.

“I don’t even know that other members are so caring and concern about me before that.” Lin said. “They showed their love and kindness and it enhanced our friendship.” She regarded this lengthy-meeting is a valuable chance for them to trained their patient and endurance.

Yeung echoed. She thought that their team spirit was increased and members became closer with each other. “It is really an unforgettable experience. You know that people are supporting you in the back while you are facing difficult questions.”

Although it was exhausting, it is still a valuable and worthy experience, they believed.

Li Yiu-kee, the Secretariat General of the Hong Kong Federation of Students pointed out that the consultation meeting should not be treated too negatively, but students should bear in mind about its real aspiration instead of blindly go for long hours.

The consultation meeting contains only question and answer sessions. Each of the cabinet members is questioned by other students about their yearly plan and schedule of the work.

“They showed their love and kindness and it enhanced our friendship,” Lin said.

Edited by TIMMY SUNG SHIU-CHUNG

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