STATEMENT OF OBJECTS
The Objects of the Society are:
- to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on the scientific concepts of cytology, on the interpretation and reporting of cytological findings and on the technical aspects of the speciality;
- to foster an interest in the training, status and conditions of employment of cytologists within Hong Kong SAR, China.
- to endeavour to achieve uniformity in the interpretation and reporting of cytological findings;
- to advance the knowledge and standards of cytology in the SAR by means of seminars, lectures, case conferences and other appropriate means including the publication of relevant material in existing medical or technical journals or by the publication of broadsheets or on the world wide web;
- to encourage research in cytology;
- to establish liaison with similar bodies having similar aims in China and other countries;
- to represent the special interests of cytological services before the various levels of government and its instrumentalities, the Academy of Medicine, the HK College of Pathologists, the HK Society of Medical Technology Association, HK Associations of Medical Societies and other organizations representing the interests of the professions and health services
Classes of membership
There shall be four classes of membership, namely:
- Medical members: These shall be registered medical practitioners who engage in the practice of clinical, diagnostic and general cytology. Medical members shall have the right to vote at general meetings of the Society provided their current annual membership fees have been paid.
- Non-medical members: These shall be graduates in medical laboratory science (or its equivalent) of a University or other Institute of Tertiary Education or persons who hold the Certificate of Competence in Cytotechnology of any Society of cytology or an equivalent qualification, who are not registered medical practitioners but who are engaged in the practice of clinical, diagnostic and general cytology.
Non-medical members shall have the right to vote and general meetings of the Society provided their current annual membership fees have been paid.
- Associate members: These shall be persons interested in cytology not eligible to be Medical or Non-medical members. Associate members may take part in all scientific, educational and social activities of the Society and may attend general meetings of the Society (unless excluded by a two-thirds majority of the Medical and Non-medical members present at such meetings) and take part in the discussions at such meetings but shall have no vote in the affairs of Society.
Medical and Non-medical members who retire from the practice of cytology but wish to retain membership of the Society may apply to become Associate members.
- Honorary Life members: Without limiting the power of the Council pursuant to subrule 5(c) of these Rules, the Council may grant Honorary Life membership of the Society to distinguished workers in clinical, diagnostic and general cytology who have played a prominent part in the development of the speciality.
Honorary Life members shall pay no annual membership fees but shall have no vote in the affairs of the Society nor shall they be eligible to hold office in the Society.
Admission to membership
- Persons desirous of becoming Medical, Non-medical or Associate members of the Society shall apply to the Council of the Society for the appropriate class of membership and the Council shall accept as members of the Society those persons who meet the criteria of subrule 2(a), 2(b) or 2(c) as the case may be and whose applications comply with subrule (b), (c) and (d) of this Rule 3.
- Persons applying for membership of the Society shall be proposed and seconded by members of the Society who shall be either Medical or Non-medical members.
- Applications for membership shall be on the form approved by the Council.
- Applications for membership shall be accompanied by payment for the entrance fee and the annual membership fee for the appropriate class of membership
- Upon a person being accepted into membership of the Society the Secretary shall enter that person’s name, and such other particulars as are required in the Regulations, in the register of members.
Fees
- The entrance fee to the Society shall be $200.00, providing that the Council may determined the entrance fee at such higher amount as it may from time to time see fit but any such determination of the Council may be revoked or altered at the annual general meeting of the Society following such meeting of the Council.
- The annual membership fee of the Society for Medical members and Non-medical members is $200.00 and for Associate members is $200.00, providing that the Council may determine the various annual membership fees at such higher amounts as it may from time to time see fit but any such determination of the Council may be revoked or altered at the annual general meeting of the Society following such meeting of the Council.
- The annual membership fee is payable on the first day of January in each year.