MILESTONES
October 1988
The Working Party on Postgraduate Medical Education and Training produced and submitted a report with recommendations to the Government on 18 October 1988.
The Report recommended that: ’there should be a “Hong Kong Academy of Medicine” composed of Fellows accredited after completion of approved training and prescribed examinations.’
October 1989
On 13 October 1989, approval was given by the Governor for the appointment of Prof. Sir David Todd as Chairman of the Preparatory Committee.
March 1992
“The Fighting Bride”, a Cantonese opera sung in English, was the big hit of March 1992 and succeeded in raising the very respectable sum of nearly $1.358M for the HKAMFF.
May 1992
Another major event was the “Walk for the Academy – Walk for Health”, which took place on 30 May 1992 along a trail in the Tai Tam Country Park. The walk was started by the then Chief Secretary Sir David Ford and successfully raised over $1.368M.
June 1992
On 25 June 1992, the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 419) was enacted by the Legislative Council.
August 1992
The Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 419) came into effect on 1 August 1992. An Interim Council was formally established, comprising six Officers and the Presidents of 12 designated Academy Colleges.
The Interim Council formally admitted 12 Academy Colleges:
- The Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists
- The Hong Kong College of Community Medicine
- The College of Dental Surgeons of Hong Kong
- The Hong Kong College of General Practitioners (subsequently renamed as The Hong Kong College of Family Physicians)
- The Hong Kong College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists
- The Hong Kong College of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- The Hong Kong College of Paediatricians
- The Hong Kong College of Pathologists
- The Hong Kong College of Physicians
- The Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists
- The Hong Kong College of Radiologists
- The College of Surgeons of Hong Kong
Two Faculties, namely Ophthalmologists and Otorhinolaryngologists, were also admitted under the College of Surgeons of Hong Kong by the Interim Council.
The Government confirmed its financial commitment, in real monetary terms, of up to a maximum of $10M. In order to encourage fund-raising efforts by the Academy, this grant would be made in matching steps of $1M for every $10M raised.
September 1993
The Academy Secretariat moved into its temporary headquarters at Multicentre Block A of the PYNEH.
December 1993
The Academy’s inaugural ceremony was held on 9 December 1993 and was officiated by the Governor, the Rt. Hon.
Mr. Christopher Patten. The ceremony was attended by over 167 overseas dignitaries during which over 2,000 Fellows were admitted according to the admission criteria set by the Interim Council.
The Academy’s inaugural ceremony was held on 9 December 1993 and was officiated by the Governor, the Rt. Hon. Mr. Christopher Patten. The ceremony was attended by over 167 overseas dignitaries during which over 2,000 Fellows were admitted according to the admission criteria set by the Interim Council.
January 1994
Building on the success of “The Fighting Bride”, a more ambitious project in conjunction with the Kwan Fong Charitable Foundation was staged. The joint fund-raising opera was held on 6-7 January 1994 at the Cultural Centre and raised $12M.
July 1994
The interim period officially ended on 19 July 1994 when the first Annual General Meeting was held and Prof. Sir David Todd was elected the first President of the Academy. The meeting was held in conjunction with the first Academy’s Fellowship Conferment Ceremony.
March 1995
On 23 March 1995, the land grant was formally executed. The Academy took over the site in Wong Chuk Hang.
March 1995
The Hong Kong Medical Journal, a joint publication of the Academy and the Hong Kong Medical Association, was published as a quarterly journal. Since 2002, it has become
a bi-monthly publication.
The Hong Kong Medical Journal, a joint publication of the Academy and the Hong Kong Medical Association, was published as a quarterly journal. Since 2002, it has become a bi-monthly publication.
November 1995
The Academy Council formally approved the design and budget of its headquarters.
June 1996
A roast pig cutting ceremony was held at the construction site of the Academy’s headquarters.
May 1997
The Academy’s Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony was held on 20 May 1997 and officiated by the Academy’s President,
Prof. Sir David Todd and the then Chairman of the HKJC,
Mr. Wong Chung-hin.
The Academy’s Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony was held on 20 May 1997 and officiated by the Academy’s President, Prof. Sir David Todd and the then Chairman of the HKJC, Mr. Wong Chung-hin.
November 1998
The opening of the Academy’s headquarters was officiated by the then Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hon. Tung Chee-hwa on
26 November 1998. The Academy also held its first International Congress on the same day.
The opening of the Academy’s headquarters was officiated by the then Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hon. Tung Chee-hwa on 26 November 1998. The Academy also held its first International Congress on the same day.
April 2000
The Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Jockey Club Building was awarded the 1999 Certificate of Merit by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects.
October 2004
On 8 October 2004, the Academy signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Health of the Macao SAR Government to provide assistance in accreditation assessment for specialists.
April 2005
A 18-person delegation of the Academy visited Beijing in April 2005. Besides attending the 90th Anniversary and the 23rd National Representative Meeting of the Chinese Medical Association, the delegation had meetings with the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress, the Ministry of Health, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing United Family Hospital & Clinics, and the Association of Medical Universities & Colleges in China. The Academy delegation had fruitful discussion and exchanged views with these organisations on various topics including specialist registration system, exchange programmes on training and CME.
April 2006
On 14 April 2006, the Academy signed an MOU with the Ministry of Health for collaboration on specialist training, accreditation and registration in the Mainland.
December 2007
The Academy signed an MOU with the Royal Society of Medicine for reciprocal use of facilities by members of both organisations.
March 2009
On 10 March 2009, the Academy (HKAM) signed an MOU with the Academy of Medicine of Malaysia (AMM) and the Academy of Medicine, Singapore (AMS), seeking to consolidate and strengthen links amongst the three academies in form and substance of the AMM-AMS-HKAM Tripartite Congress of Medicine. The Tripartite Congress would be held every 3 years, to be hosted by the three academies by rotation.
November 2010
1st AMM-AMS-HKAM Tripartite Congress was inaugurated at the Academy on 12 November 2010.
July 2013
In July 2013, the Academy signed an agreement with the Center of Medical Simulation, seeking to promote patient safety, medical education and research using simulation in Hong Kong.
December 2013
The Academy’s funded project, the HKJC Innovative Learning Centre for Medicine, was officially opened on 10 December 2013.
August 2014
Another funded project of the Academy, the HKJC Disaster Preparedness and Response Institute was officially established on 20 August 2014.
October 2015
On 31 October 2015, the Academy renewed the MOU with National Health and Family Planning Commission to extend and continue the collaboration in training of general practitioners and medical specialists for the establishment of “Standardisation of General / Specialist Medical Training” in the Mainland.