The Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Hong Kong

Honorary Secretary Report for the Year 1999 to 2001

Biennial General Meetings

The 20th BGM was held on 6 May 1999 at Sheraton Hotel. It was attended by 40 members. The following Council was elected to serve for two years.

After the BGM, there was a dinner and scientific lecture on the "Management of Cervical Cancer" delivered by Professor Kitchener. The 21st BGM will be held on 8 May 2001.

Postgraduate educational activity

Scientific Meetings

Organisation of scientific meetings is a major task of the Society. Scientific meetings serve many purposes, scientific exchange, social function and postgraduate education (CME/CNE). In these two years, there were 23 meetings held as shown in the following table. Few meetings are under preparation. The perinatal symposium organized in October 2001 with the Hong Kong Society of Neonatal Medicine will be a large scale one. The attendance rate of these meetings, both from regular and associate members, was good.

Upcoming meetings

Scientific lecture

Dr. Tse Hei Yee was nominated to deliver a talk on HIV and pregnancy in the Annual Scientific Meeting of Federation of Medical Societies of Hong Kong on 10 June 2001 on behalf of OGSHK.

The Journal of Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Midwifery

After the hard work of the Editorial Committee chaired by Dr. Lawrence Tang, our Journal was "delivered" in August 2000 (just before the FIGO meeting). We aim for two "deliveries" each year but because of finance and production problem, sometimes there may be delay. The next issue will be ready in April/May 2001. Original papers and comments are welcome.

Public educational activity

Public lectures

During these two years, we have jointly organized lectures for public with the following organizations: Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Johnson and Johnson and Wyeth HK Ltd. The topics included antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care. Some talks were also organized on menopausal women's health and use of hormonal replacement therapy. Members were invited to be guest speakers and the public response was very good. I must thank all the voluntary speakers on behalf of the Society.

MJ = Mead Johnson Nutritionals
J&J = Johnson and Johnson
Wyeth = Wyeth HK Ltd

Public Health Hotline

A public health information hotline was launched in 1999 and the response from public was good. Pre-recorded message on common obstetrical, gynaecological, breast feeding and infant problems were stored in the computer and client can retrieve any of the information by dialing 2599 8333. This service is sponsored by Wyeth HK Ltd.

Booklets on menopausal health

A booklet on menopausal health (踏入更年期的旅程) was prepared by OGSHK which is intended for distribution to patients in clinics/hospitals/well women clinic etc. Common questions and worries on menopause and the use of hormone replacement therapy (like incidence of carcinoma of breast) were addressed. A copy of this booklet was distributed to all members. The publication cost was sponsored by Wyeth HK Ltd.

Health Exhibitions

8-9 May 1999 Mother's Day (更年期教育展覽會-關懷母親的健康)

Kowloon City Plaza, Poster exhibition on perimenopausal health; free blood pressure and body weight check.

24-25 March 2001 Women and children health exhibition

(美麗明天婦女及兒童健康博覽會)

Coorganiser: Hong Kong Paediatric Society, Family Planning Association, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

Help in the promotion of women health

The Hong Kong Cancer Fund organized a breast cancer awareness week in October 2000 and OGSHK help to distribute information and pamphlets to all our members. A similar campaign on carcinoma of cervix will be organized in May 2001 and OGSHK was invited to help in support and promotion.

International representation

Bidding for 2006 FIGO Congress in Hong Kong

A memorandum was signed between OGSHK and HKCOG in bidding for the 2006 Congress in Hong Kong. The O&G Trust Fund has contributed HK$30000, OGSHK $10000 and HKCOG $50000. The net gain of the Congress will be split between the HKCOG and OGSHK in a ratio of 5 to 1. Contribution will also made to help the development of O&G training in Mainland China. A site visit was made by the FIGO Congress Preparation team in January 2000. A team of 60 delegates from Hong Kong was deployed in September 2000 to attend the XVI FIGO Congress in Washington DC. We lost our bid in the second round of ballot and Malaysia was elected the site for the 2006 Congress. Although we have lost this time, it was a good and meaningful exercise for all of us. Thanks should be given to all those who have contributed including members of the organizing committee, delegates and sponsors. The OGSHK did not incur any financial loss other than the $10000 seed money.

Representation at local organizations

International representatives

Prof Hextan Ngan attended the 7th Council Meeting of AOFOG in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 6 August 1999. The next Council Meeting will be held on 27 October 2001 in Melbourne, Australia. Prof Hextan Ngan and Dr. SK Lam represented the OGSHK in the July 2000 Singapore AOFOG General Assembly.

Dr. Dominic Li and Prof PC Ho represented OGSHK in the FIGO General Assembly in September 2000 (Washington DC, USA).

On the request of FIGO, Dr. Dominic Li attended the 50^th Regional Committee Meeting for Western Pacific region of WHO in Macau from 13 to 17 September 1999.

In the last FIGO General Assembly in Washington DC (September 2000), Chinese Society of O&G, China was officially accepted as a member society of FIGO.

Links have been established with Chinese Society of O&G Societies via Prof Cao of Chinese Medical Association, Taiwan Association of O&G (President: Dr. TH Su) and obstetricians/gynaecologists in Macau (Dr. Luo, no formal O&G Society yet)

Members welfare

At present, there are 320 members. Member welfare benefits were announced in newsletter regularly (restaurants, banking service etc). Holders of membership card of the Federation of Medical Societies are entitled to discounted service in some restaurants, motor repair etc.

Newsletters were published regularly and a list of local and overseas meeting was prepared for members' easy reference. The Society's website was regularly updated.

The OGSHK was formed in 1961 and is 40 years old. To celebrate the 40^th Anniversary, special anniversary brochure, souvenir and gathering are being planned.

Nomination of members to attend international meetings

Relationship with other Medical Societies

OGSHK has organized talks with other societies like HK College of Family Physicians, HK Society of Urology, HK Continence Society, HK Society of Neonatal Medicine and HK Paediatric Society etc.

Within obstetrics and gynaecology, societies with particular emphasis on subspecialty area were formed. The Hong Kong Society of Reproductive Medicine was inaugurated on 10 October 2000 and the Hong Kong Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology was formed in January 2001. The Hong Kong Menopause Society was under preparation. Although these new societies may compete with OGSHK in securing sponsorship for meetings, they are of benefit to the profession and the community as a whole. The OGSHK would work closely with these sister societies in promoting the health of women in Hong Kong.

Prepared by Dr. SK Lam, Honorary Secretary (1999-2001)
Endorsed by Council, April 2001