Honorary Fellow Dr CHEUNG Tak Hong (2019)

Dr Cheung graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1983 but his decision to become a O&G specialist was made whilst he was a 4th year medical student in the Tsan Yuk Hospital. Dr Cheung was sent to receive O&G specialist training in the Prince of Wales Hospital in 1984 because no one chose to work in this newly established teaching hospital of CUHK.

This turned out to be a great blessing for him because of the ample opportunities available for him to learn new knowledge and skill, conduct researches and developed new services. He passed his MRCOG examination in 1988 and was the first batch trained O&G specialist of PWH.

He received gynaeoncology training in the Mayo Clinic in United States in 1991 and devoted the subsequent years of service in this subspecialty area until his retirement.

Hospital Authority was established in 1990 and Dr Cheung was promoted to be a consultant grade doctor in 1993. With the support of his mentor, Professor Allan Chang, he was also appointed as the Chief of Service in O&G at the Prince of Wales Hospital in the same year much against all odds because of his young age. This gave him a stepping stone and good exposure to administration and politics.

Since then he has served in many capacities in the College, O&G Society, O&G Trust Fund and Family Planning Association. He chose to step down from the COS post in 1997 and channel his time and energy to clinical services and research.

He has obtained a MD degree from CUHK in 2012, and up to date published more than 110 papers in international peer review journals and obtained grants of more than 50 million HK dollars as a co-investigator.

Internationally, he is the board of directors of Eurasian Federation of Oncology that advocate global cooperation to promote training and education to combat cancers with primary focus in less developed countries.

In 2011, he was called upon to become the COS because of the medical and midwifery manpower crisis in HA O&G services, as a result of the surging number of NEP coming from Mainland China to give birth in HK. He took up the chairman position of Coordinating Committee in O&G in HA at the same time and worked closely with other COSs to strengthen the training and service delivery in HA hospitals. To name a few, these include enhancing local and overseas trainings, modernization of surgical equipment, centralised recruitment of resident trainee, resisted the pressure to start delivery services in Tseung Kwan O Hospital, set up O&G clinic in Lo Wo Correctional Institution, early creation of midwifery consultant posts, initiated revision of midwifery manpower indicator, expanded and modernized the midwifery school.

He has also developed an App known as HApi Journey for pregnant ladies that got >50,000 downloads in the first 18 months. Dr Cheung demonstrated a good leadership by serving his subordinates and that is why he is addressed as “Dai Lo?inside and outside PWH.

Dr Cheung is committed to serve HK and a strong advocate for principle. He would not refrain himself from speaking out what he believes with little worry about the consequence. Together with other doctors and midwives in the HK Obstetric Service Concern Group, he spoke against the government for uncontrolled NEP influx to deliver in HK in 2011and 2012.

During his 6-year service in the Medical Council since 2013, he supported the increase in 4 lay members in the Medical Council to gain public trust of Medical Council though he realised many doctors may not appreciate his good will for the medical profession. In 2017, He was Appointed as Justice of the Peace by the HK government to honour his dedication and contribution to the HK society.

In summary, Professor CHEUNG is the most appropriate recipient of the Honorary Fellowship of our college in recognition of his 34 years of service to our College, our specialty, profession and society.

Mr President, I present Dr Cheung Tak Hong, for the Honorary Fellowship of The Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Dr CHAN Shing Chee Symphorosa
at the conferment ceremony in 2019