CONSTITUTION AND RULES OF THE HONG KONG SOCIETY
AND RULES OF
THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR EMERGENCY MEDICINE & SURGERY
(after amendment on 5th December, 1995)


Article 1. Name

The name of the Society shall be "The Hong Kong Society for Emergency Medicine and Surgery " ( ­» ´ä «æ ¯g Âå ¾Ç ·| ) , hereinafter referred to as the " Society ".

Article 2. Address

The address shall be care of Tang Shiu Kin Hospital, Queen's Road East, Hong Kong, or such other place as may be decided upon by the Council.

Article 3. Objects

The objects of the Society are as follows :
  1. To promote the interest in Accident and Emergency Medicine and Surgery amongst members and the medical profession in Hong Kong.
  2. To foster better understanding and relationship among members by organizing social functions, and professional activities.
  3. To look after the interests of its members by providing a forum for discussion on matters affecting them and by keeping relevant bodies advised on their views.
  4. To liaise with similar organizations in other countries in the pursuit of advancement of knowledge in the field of Accident and Emergency Medicine and Surgery.

Article 4. Membership

  1. Full membership of the Society shall be open to all registered medical practitioners in Hong Kong who has an interest in Accident and Emergency Medicine and Surgery.
  2. Affiliated membership shall be open to all paramedical staff and medical students as approved by the Council. Affiliated members shall enjoy the full benefits of full members except the right to vote and be elected to sit in the Council.
  3. Full and affiliated members can choose to be life memberes after they had been in the Society for 2 years and pay the appropriate fees amounting five times the current annual subscription.

Article 5. Every member, except life member, shall pay an annual subscription to the Society; the amount shall be determined or revised by the Council, from time to time.

Article 6. Officers
  1. The Officers shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, an Honorary Secretary and an Honorary Treasurer, elected once every two years by secret ballot at the Annual General Meeting. Vacancies arising at other times shall be filled by co-option by members of the Council from the Council.
  2. The President shall preside at the Council and all other meetings of the Society, and shall represent the Society in dealings with outside bodies. In the event fo his absence, the Vice-President shall act on his behalf.
  3. The Honorary Secretary shall be responsible for all correspondence of the Society and shall keep records or minutes of all meetings.
  4. The Honorary Treasurer shall be responsible for the Society's funds and shall present a financial report at the Annual General Meeting. This report shall be audited by an Honorary Auditor appointed yearly by the Council. All cheques shall be signed by two of the four officers.

Article 7. Council
  1. The Council shall consist of the Officers and ten members. The outgoing President shall automatically be an ex-officio member of the Council. The other nine members shall be elected by secret ballot at the Annual General Meeting. In the event that the outgoing President is elected to hold any office, ten instead of nine shall be elected. Vacancies occurring during the year shall be filled by co-option by remaining members of the Council from members of the Society. The Council may at their discretion co-opt a maximum of two additional members temporarily for specific purposes.
  2. At all Council Meetings eight shall form a quorum. In the event of a tie, the President shall have a casting vote.
  3. The Council shall be responsible for organizing the professional and social programmes and transacting all business of the Society in pursuance of its objects.

Article 8. Subcommittee
  1. The Council may at their discretion appoint temporarily a number of full or affiliated members to sit in a subcommitteee in order to deal with specific issues.
  2. Resolutions and recommendations submitted by the subcommitteee must be endorsed by the Council before being put into practice.

Article 9. Meetings
  1. There shall be an Annual General Meeting in the second half of each year, convened by the President for the election of the Council, the adoption of the Treasurer's report, and any other business as is included in the agenda.
  2. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened for a specific purpose either by the Council or at the request of ten or more members.
  3. Notice of all General Meetings and their purposes shall be given to members at least ten days before the date of the meeting.
  4. At all General Meeting 25 full members shall form a quorum.
  5. Subject to Article 10 Clause (i) and Article 11, all motions shall be carried by s simple majority. In the event of a tie, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.

Article 10. Dissolution
  1. The Society may be dissolved by a resolution carried by a two-thirds majority of the full members present at a General Meeting or Extra-ordinary General Meeting convened for the purpose.
  2. Upon dissolution of the Society all liabilities shall be equally shared by members of the Council, and in case of debts incurred before their term of office, by members of the previous Council as well.
  3. If there remain any assets upon dissolution of the Society, they shall not be paid out or distributed to the members, but shall be given or transferred to such association having similar interest to those of this Society as the members shall by resolution direct.

Article 11. Amendments

This constitution shall not be amended except at a General Meeting or Extraordinary Meeting convened for the purpose. Amendments will be carried by a two-thirds majority of the full members present.

Article 12. Use of Funds

The funds of the Society shall beused only in pursuance of the objects of the Society as stated in Article 3.