The Formation of
The Hong Kong College of Paediatricians
The idea of a postgraduate academy of medicine was first mooted by Dr Harry S.Y Fang of the Government Medical Advisory Committee around 1983-1984. There then followed the appointment of an external consultant and a working party on postgraduate medical education and training in 1986 to study the problem, culminating in the publication of the Halnan's Report in October, 1988, which recommended the establishment of a postgraduate Academy of Medicine to supervise, and accredit postgraduate training and to award specialist qualifications.
A great deal of discussion and debate took place within the medical community in Hong Kong during that time. Specialist groups began to discuss the establishment of individual Colleges to act as "building blocks" for the future Academy.
In 1985, a group of adult physicians and paediatricians formed a working party to draft the constitution of a proposed Hong Kong College of Physicians (for those physicians practising adult medicine and those practising paediatric medicine).
After a lengthy period of intense discussion, the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Hong Kong College of Physicians were finalised and the Hong Kong College of Physicians was incorporated as a company on the 31st day of October, 1986. The Subscribers included 29 adult physicians and 13 paediatricians. Criteria were laid down for admitting doctors with recognised postgraduate training and qualification as either Fellows or Members.
It was suggested that two autonomous chapters be set up within the College, one for adult physicians and one for paediatricians.
Subsequent to this, a Preparatory Committee for the formation of the Academy was appointed by the Governor under the Chairmanship of Professor David Todd.
After much deliberation, the proposal contained in the Halnan's Report for seven Colleges was dropped in favour of the present eleven Colleges and three Faculties, which represent the actual divisions of medical specialties, each with a sufficiently large membership, that are already in existence in Hong Kong.
In the meantime, it was felt that the adult physicians and the paediatricians should be represented in the Academy by two separate Colleges instead of the single college with two chapters as originally proposed. The Council of the Hong Kong College of Physicians then appointed a group of paediatricians who were fellows, under the chairmanship of Professor C.Y. Yeung, one of the two Vice-Presidents, to study the formation of a separate College of Paediatricians and to draft its constitution.
A meeting of paediatricians (including fellows and members of the College as well as other paediatricians) was held on 16th December, 1990, at the Federation of Medical Societies of Hong Kong, and it was resolved that a College of Paediatricians be established.
A group of 30 paediatricians put their names down as subscribers when the Memorandum and Articles of Association was finalised. The "Hong Kong College of Paediatricians" was formally incorporated as a company on the 8th day of May, 1991.
On the advice of our Honorary Legal Advisor, the original College was left intact and a new college was formed. The adult physicians retained the original College while the paediatric fellows and members resigned and had their files transferred to the new College of Paediatricians.
The Inaugural Meeting of the Hong Kong College of Paediatricians was held on the 16th of November, 1991, at the Grand Ballroom of the Hong Kong Hilton Hotel. All Fellows were sworn in and awarded the Certificate of Fellowship. They also signed the College Register.
This article was written by Dr Y.C. TSAO and was reproduced from the Inauguration Bulletin of the Hong Kong College of Paediatricians
The objects for which the College is established are:
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to promote for the public benefit the advancement of knowledge of the science and art of Paediatrics;
- to act as a body for the purpose of consultation in matters of educational or public interest concerning Paediatrics;
- to develop and maintain the good practice of Paediatrics by ensuring the highest professional standards of competence and ethical integrity;
- to institute and provide lectures and demonstrations upon medical subjects for the benefit of the members of the College and to admit to such lectures and demonstrations persons who are not members of the College on such occasions as shall be deemed expedient by the College;
- to consider all questions affecting the interests of the College and to promote or oppose any measure relating to paediatrics or the interests of the College as may be deemed expedient by the College;
- if and when considered advisable to apply or petition for or promote an Ordinance to be passed for the purposes of the College or for the re-incorporation for the members thereof or for continuing or expanding the work thereof;
- to acquire establish print issue and circulate such magazines periodicals circulars calendars or other literary or scientific works as may seem conducive to the promotion of these objects or in any way beneficial to the College;
- to acquire by purchase donation or otherwise a library of scientific works and to maintain and from time to time extend and improve such a library;
- to establish and support or aid in the establishment and support of any charitable or benevolent associations or institutions connected with the purpose of the College or calculated to further its objects provided that the College shall not amalgamate with any association or institution unless it shall prohibit the distribution of its income and property among its members to an extent at least as great as is imposed on the College under or by virtue of Clause 4 hereof;
- to promote postgraduate training and to conduct examinations in Paediatrics for the public benefit;
- to promote research in Paediatrics for the public benefit;
- to disseminate information on matters affecting the College;
- to advise on medial matters, to represent a medical view by representation of the College on appropriate medical and heath bodies and to obtain and maintain recognition as the body responsible for Paediatrics (provided always that nay benefit obtained by members of the College as a result of such recognition should be merely incidental to the achievement of the objects of the College);
- to provide a focus for academic paediatrics throughout Hong Kong;
- to liaise with other medical faculties or bodies about matters of mutual interest;
- to promote international communication in the field of Paediatrics;
- to achieve the objects and powers, it is in order for the College:-
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to accept any gift donation endowment or bequest made to the College generally or for the purpose of any specific object of interest to the College and to carry out any trusts attached to any such gift donation endowment or bequest;
- to promote the College to be registered or recognized in any country or place outside Hong Kong as shall be deemed desirable or expedient by the College;
- to purchase, take on lease or in exchange hire or otherwise acquire any real and personal property wheresoever situate and any rights or privileges which the College may think necessary or convenient for the purpose for which it is established and in particular any lands buildings plant and equipment;
- to do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects.
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Memorandum & Articles of Association of Hong Kong College of Paediatricians
(One requires a member log-in to view the above document)
Proposed revised Memorandum & Articles of Association of Hong Kong College of Paediatricians
(endorsed at 2015 AGM on 5 December 2015)
Revised Memorandum & Articles of Association of Hong Kong College of Paediatricians
(endorsed at 2020 EGM on 5 June 2020)
