The Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (HKCOG) was established in 1988 to supervise and recognise postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.  Before its establishment, Hong Kong had adopted the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) system in the UK for accreditation of training.  With Hong Kong returning to China in 1997 after more than 100 years of colonial rule, it was necessary to establish a local body to accredit our local specialists.  The college’s missions are to encourage the study and advancement of the science and practice of O&G in Hong Kong and to develop and maintain the good practice of O&G by ensuring the highest professional standards of competence and ethical integrity. HKCOG was one of the founding colleges of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, which was established in 1993.  RCOG supported our establishment, and HKCOG and RCOG have worked closely since.

Time flies.  2023 is our 35^th anniversary.  With continued effort from all the fellows and members, HKCOG has served its role well throughout the years while expanding to take care of the rising needs in our specialty, such as the development of subspecialties, the emphasis on continuous medical education, the concerns on risk management, and the welfare of our young fellows and trainees etc.

Holding an international conference this year would be the best way to celebrate our anniversary.  Having endured more than three years of COVID social distancing and quarantine measures, it’s about time that we move away from ZOOM meetings and reconnect face to face. Despite many of us spending much time dealing with COVID work outside our specialty in times of global emergency, our profession has continued to strive to provide the best for our patients through research and development. Now, it’s the time to come together to share our advances and celebrate our friendship.

This meeting will have a good mix of topics from all the subspecialties, with state-of-the-art lectures and forefront research presentations.  We are privileged to have prominent speakers locally and from overseas, allowing plenty of opportunities to exchange ideas and foster collaborations.

We look forward to seeing you all at our 35^th HKCOG anniversary conference and welcoming you to the Pearl of the Orient!

Dr. Karen KL Chan
Chairperson, Organizing Committee
HKCOG 35^th Anniversary International Conference
President
Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists