Psychiatrists

Constitution of The Hong Kong Society of Psychiatrists

- Name
- Address
- Objects
- Use of Funds
- Membership
- Termination of Membership
- The Committee
- Duties of Officers

- Election of Officers
- Term of Office of Officers
- Meetings
- Subscription
- Amendment to the Constitution
- Debts and Liabilities
- Dissolution

Name
1.	The Society shall be known as: "The Hong Kong Society of Psychiatrists"(香港執業精神科醫生協會)

Address
2.	The registered address of the Society shall be: c/o 9/F, Humphrey Plaza, 4 Humphreys Avenue, Tsimshatsui

Objects

3.

i.	To promote fellowship among members of the Society.
ii.	To promote exchange of scientific knowledge and experience in the

	practice of psychiatry among members.
iii.	To encourage a high standard of psychiatric practice and ethics in Hong Kong.
iv.	To collaborate with the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists in the advancement of psychiatry and the allied fields of medical specialties.
v.	To promote communication and co-operation with the medical institutional bodies and voluntary mental health organisations for the betterment of psychiatric service.

Use of Funds
4.	The Funds of the Society shall be derived from members' subscription and/or donations and are to be applied solely to achieve the objects of the Society.

There shall be 3 kinds of members:-

i.	Ordinary members shall be registered medical practitioners engaged in private practice in psychiatry holding a postgraduate qualification in psychiatry or with the appropriate psychiatric experience as recognised by the Committee.
ii.	Honorary members shall be prominent persons with distinguished contribution to the field of psychiatry and mental health.
iii.	Affiliate members shall be registered medical practitioners engaged in full time work in psychiatry other than in private practice.

Admission to ordinary or affiliate membership must be proposed by one and seconded by another ordinary member. The qualification and curriculum vitae will be considered by the Committee. Admission will be granted when passed by the Committee. The new member shall pay the prescribed subscription upon notification of their acceptance to membership before they become members.

Admission to Honorary membership shall be nominated by the Committee and elected at a General Meeting.

Only Ordinary members shall have the right to vote, to propose and second motions and be eligible for office.

Termination of Membership

i.	Any member may resign from membership by giving notice in writing to the Committee of his intention to do so.
ii.	a. Any member who is in arrears with his subscription for one or more years shall be deemed to cease his membership with the Society. b. The Committee may, if it thinks fit, reinstate his membership when all arrears are paid.
iii.	Any member whose name has been removed from the register of the Medical Practitioners of Hong Kong shall cease to be a member.

The Committee
7	The Committee shall consist the following:- A Chairman, A Vice-chairman, An Honorary Secretary, An Honorary Treasurer, A Programme Convenor. The officers of the Society shall be the Chairman, the Vice-chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and Programme Convenor.

Duties of Officers

i.	The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Society and sign minutes of the General and Committee Meetings.
ii.	The Vice-chairman shall preside meetings in the absence of or as directed by the Chairman.
iii.	The Hon. Secretary shall manage all correspondence, keep records and prepare reports of the Society.
iv.	The Hon. Treasurer shall collect subscriptions from members, keep accounts and prepare financial statements of the Society.
v.	The Programme Convenor shall plan and organise regular meetings and other activities of the Society.

Election of Officers
9.	The Officers of the Society shall be elected by a show of hands at the Annual General Meeting. At the time of nomination, consent of the candidates to serve if elected must be given.

Term of Office of Officers
10.	The term of office of all Officers shall be for a period of one year. All Officers are eligible for re-election to the same office but not for more than two terms in succession. No officer shall be allowed to serve in the Committee for more than three consecutive terms.

i.	The Annual General Meeting shall be held once in every calendar year in the month of March. At least 14 days notice shall be given for the Annual General Meeting. At the Annual General Meeting, 7 ordinary members present shall form a quorum. Honorary Legal Adviser of the Society shall be invited by the Committee and appointed in the Annual General Meeting.
ii.	Extraordinary General Meetings may be called by the Committee or at the jointly written request of at least 7 ordinary members submitted to the Committee. Upon receipt of such request, the Committee shall convene the Meeting within one calendar month. At least 14 days' notice shall be given for an Extraordinary General Meeting. 7 ordinary members present shall form a quorum. If a quorum cannot be formed at a General Meeting, the Meeting shall be adjourned for a period not exceeding 14 days. For the adjourned Meeting, members shall be given notice at least 7 days. At the adjourned Meeting, any number of ordinary members present shall be a quorum.
iii.	Committee Meetings shall be held at such time as deemed necessary by the Chairman or at the request of two members of the Committee. 3 Committee members present shall form a quorum. At least 3 days' notice shall have been given.
iv.	Regular scientific or social meetings shall be held.
v.	At all meetings, a motion shall be passed into resolution by a majority vote. The Chairman of the meeting shall be entitled to a second casting vote in the situation of equal votes.

Subscription

i.	Subscription for Ordinary Members shall be up to HK $200 per year.
ii.	Subscription for Affiliate Members shall be HK $100 per year.
iii.	Honorary Members shall not pay any subscription.
iv.	Waiving of subscription shall be decided by the Committee.

Amendment to the Constitution

i.	Any proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be proposed by one and seconded by another member and then presented to the Committee for discussion.
ii.	The Committee shall then submit the same for discussion at a General Meeting convened for the purpose.
iii.	No resolution for any amendment shall be deemed to have been passed unless it be carried by a majority of the members present at the General Meeting and shall be subjected to the approval of the Registrar of Societies.

Debts and Liabilities

i.	The liability of members is limited only to their annual membership fee, and their share of expenditure at the meetings of the Society.
ii.	Any debts of the Society shall be the responsibility of the Committee members holding office during the year in which the debts were incurred.

Dissolution
15.	The Society shall only be dissolved by the consent of at least two-thirds of its Ordinary Members. Upon dissolution all assets belonging to the Society shall be given over to charitable organisations after discharge of all the liabilities and debts.

Copyright © 2007 The Hong Kong Society of Psychiatrists