Honorary Fellow Professor Kin-Hung Lee (2005)

Professor LEE Kin Hung graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1958, having attended on a government scholarship. He became a Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists in 1965, and a Fellow in 1984. He graduated Doctor of Medicine from the University of Hong Kong in 1971, being at that time, the first person outside the Department of Medicine, to be so honoured. When the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine was set up in 1993, he was one of its Foundation Fellow.

He began his career in obstetrics & gynaecology in Tsan Yuk Hospital in 1958 and rose through the ranks to become senior lecturer. His research was concentrated on obstetrics. The title of the thesis “The use of amnioscopy and fetal blood sampling in the diagnosis of fetal distress?indicates he was at the cutting edge of research at that time. In 1975, he established his own private practice. He still works in this practice today and he delights in telling colleagues that our current worries with medical indemnity subscription does not involve him because he is now a life member, and does not have to pay subscriptions, having been a continuous member for 40 years.

Mr President, this brief outline of his career in obstetrics & gynaecology is only part of his remarkable career. His many other contributions to Hong Kong are long years of service in the Medical Council, culminating in his Chairing the Council from 2000-2003. Between 1970 and 2000, he held at some time or another many posts in The Hong Kong Medical Association, ultimately becoming its President from 1994-98. He was a Hong Kong Affairs advisor from 1995-97, a Selection Committee member and is currently an Election Committee member of the Medical sub-sector. He has also served in many other capacities including a member of the Health and Medical Advisory committee from 1992-2002.

Mr President, we are not the first institution to honour Professor Lee, nor, I trust, the last. He was made a Member of the British Empire in 1996 for his services to medical education for the public. In 2004, he was appointed Honorary Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong. In the same year, he was elected Member of the standing committee of the Convocation and Member of the Court of the University. Perhaps rather exotically, he is also a Fellow by election of the Hong Kong College of Oto-Rhino-laryngologists.

Mr President, this citation is not complete with mentioning his friendly smile, his easy and unassuming leadership style and his capacity to be kind and firm at the same time. He remains, despite his remarkable career, achievements and honours, a man with few apparent pretensions and fewer airs and graces.

Mr President, I present, for conferment of the Honorary Fellowship of our College, Professor Lee Kin Hung.

Professor Tony Chung
at the conferment ceremony in 2005.