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Chapter 1 General Provisions
Article 1 ---- Name: The English name is “Hong Kong Association of Homeopathy”, hereinafter as “the Association” or “HKAH”. The Chinese name of the Society is 「香港順勢療法醫學會」.
Article 2 ---- Address:4/F, UNION PARK CENTRE, 771-775 NATHAN ROAD, PRINCE EDWARD, KOWLOON, HONG KONG.
Article 3 ---- Aim: The Association is established as a legally registered non-profit professional organization, its mission is to popularize classical homeopathy, empower proper education in the profession.
Article 4 ---- Mission: The popularization of Homeopathy can be achieved through regular professional seminars, journals, academic publications /activities, historical researches, standardized professional training, and regular gatherings. Communication with international bodies of the profession is also crucial for the most updated academic pursuit, quality service could be offered to the citizens, so as to improve the living standard of the society.
Article 5 ---- Amendment of the constitution: The Executive Council has to right to submit amendment of the constitution in case of inadequacy. Any proposal to amend this Constitution should be discussed in the Executive, and submitted to the Membership Assembly for final discussion.
Article 6 ---- Interpretation of the constitution: To conserve the integrity of the Association’s mission, the founder(s) has the right to interpret this Constitution, and the right of final judgment in cases of argument. If the amendment of the constitution is not coherent with the founders’ mission, it has to be agreed by the founders before amendment. Should there be
any discrepancy between the Chinese and English version of the constitution, the Chinese text shall prevail. The text of this Constitution in English is for reference only.
Chapter 2 Membership, rights and obligations of
members
Article 7 ---- There are two founders, who are the contractors as well.
The number of members is not limited, there are three types of membership:
1. Registered Member: Holder of professional homeopathic practitioner diploma qualifications may apply. The applicant should (i) complete and submit the application form (ii) referred by a registered member of HKAH with a written recommendation (iii) submitted a copy of the professional homeopathic practitioner diploma (iv) pay the annual fee
Holder of professional homeopathic practitioner diploma qualifications may apply the registration membership. The recognized professional regulatory agencies in US., Canada, U.K., Australia and India are as shown:
North America Council for Homeopathic Certification (CHC) North American Society of Homeopaths (NASH) Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians (HANP) Canadian Council on Homeopathic Certification (CCHC)
United Kingdom 1. The Alliance of Registered Homeopaths (ARH) 2. The Association of Natural Medicine (ANM) 3. British Register of Complementary Practitioners (BRCP Hom. Div) 4. Council for Homeopathic Colleges (CHC) 5. Complementary Therapist Association (CThA) 6. Fellowship of Homeopaths (FelHom) 7. Homeopathic Medical Association (HMA)
8. International Register of Consultant herbalist and Homeopaths (IRCH) 9. International Society for Homeopathy (ISH (UK)) 10. National Association of Homeopathic Groups (NAHG) 11. Scottish Association of Professional Homeopaths (SAPH) 12. Society of Homeopaths (SoH)
P.S.：There is currently active transformation on the registration system in United Kingdom, HKAH would follow the current system and new policies coming soon. There is a tendency for a single statuary agent, students graduated in Homeopathic Schools in U.K. may all need to get an registration from the Society of Homeopaths (SoH) before application to HKAH if they finally become the single statuary agent.
Australia Australian Register of Homoeopaths (AROH)
India
Central Council of Homeopathy ( D.H.M.S / B.H.M.S / M.D.(Hom) )
P.S.：Legislation on homeopathy is completed in 1973, by 《The Homeopathy Central Council Act, No.59 of 1973》， Central Council of Homeopathy is given the statutory regulation agent, centralizing the registration for homeopaths, homeopathic colleges and training courses. There are 182 homeopathic universities and colleges accredited by the Central Council of Homeopathy，applications would be assessed with the reference of the official website of the Central Council of Homeopathy (http://www.cchindia.com/php/allcollege_list.html). Graduates from India should graduate from one of these universities or colleges so that they can register with the Association.
P.S. All distant learning courses / correspondence courses would not be accepted by HKAH.
2. Student Member: Any student of the relevant professional homeopathic diploma, or holder of relevant professional diploma, or relevant professional homeopathic diploma (not a qualification) may apply. The applicant should (i) complete and submit the application form (ii) for student, submit a copy of the receipt of the relevant professional homeopathic course fees (for student case), or a copy of relevant professional diploma, or a copy of the relevant professional homeopathic diploma (iii) pay the annual fee
3. Sponsor Member: Any person who is enthusiastic and support homeopathy, willing to appreciate or learn homeopathy may apply. The applicant should (i) complete and submit the application form (ii) pay an annual fee
Article 8 ---- Rights of Members
1. All registered members have the rights to participate in the activities of the Association, to attend the members Assembly, to participate in the elections of the Association ,and to enjoy the rights to nominate, second and vote.
a. Registered members (except the founders) can only be elected as the president or members of the Executive Council or members of the Supervisory Council after one year of registration.
b. Rights to speak and to propose.
c. To enjoy the welfare and facilities of the Association
2. All student and sponsor members have the rights to participate in the activities of the Association, to attend the members Assembly. When they have fulfilled the requirement for the application of registered member, they can apply for the registration.
3. All sponsor members have the rights to attend the members Assembly, but without the rights to participate in the elections of the Association, to nominate, second and vote.
4. Only Registered members have the right to be elected as the president.
Article 9 ----Obligation of Members
1. All registered and student members should follow the “Code of Ethics and Practice” by the Association. 2. All members should follow the regulations of the Association
a. Abided by the constitution b. Support and follow the constitution and decision in the members Assembly, Executive and Supervisory Councils c. Not to do anything which harms the reputation of the Association d. Facilitate the activities by the society and encourage the co-operation between
members e. Pay the annual membership fee timely. Members should pay the annual fee for the current year during the application, and they should pay the annual fee for the next year before the expiry date on the membership card. Members who fail the membership dues would be reminded by letter or call, if they still do not pay the annual fee within 10 working days, it would be considered as violation of the constitution and would be handled according to the Article 10.
Article 10 ---- Termination of membership
1. Withdrawal of the membership should be applied by letter, membership would be terminated after the approval of the Executive Council.
2. Members who breach the obligations, the Association would immediately terminate the membership. Another application is necessary if he wants to become our member again, the application have to be approved by the Executive and Supervisory Council.
3. Members who fail to act according to our mission, violate the constitution, harm the reputation of the Association, violate the local law, are accessed by the Executive Council. They might be warned, advised or expulsed (not allowed to apply for our membership again) according to the severity of the case.
4. For the above situations, members can reapply for membership one year (365 days) after the termination for special reasons, after the approval of president, vice president, half of the Executive and Supervisory Council.
Chapter 3 Organization and Terms of Reference
Article 11 ---- Organization of the Association
1. Members Assembly 2. Executive Council 3. Supervisory Council
Article 12 ---- Members Assembly: it is the ultimate authority of the Association, its responsibility and power include the followings:
1. Establishment and amendment of the constitution;
2. Election of the president, vice president and members of the Executive Council (which must be odd number), a term of Office of the Executive lasts two years, Executive may seek re-election; 3. Decide on the direction, mission, plan and important issues; discussion and passage of financial reports and budgets; 4. Discussion and passage of general reports from the Executive Council; 5. The Members Assembly shall be held at least once per year, convening a meeting for all members; 6. Unless stated otherwise in law, the passage of any referendum requires the approval of at least half of the entire Membership of the Society.
Article 13 ---- Extraordinary Members Assembly:
1. For special reasons, president can convene an Extraordinary Members Assembly;
2. For special reasons, Executive Council, Supervisory Council or more than half of the registered members may submit a petition for an Extraordinary Members Assembly, the President must convene one.
Article 14 ---- Procedures of a Members Assembly:
1. The Members Assembly shall be held once per year, convening a meeting for all members; 2. Members Assembly is convened and hosted by the president, if the president is absent or unable to host, the vice president must act on his behalf;
3. The convention of the Members Assembly, its date, time, venue and agenda shall be announced by letter or notice at least eight days prior to the Assembly;
4. Members Assembly shall not start until the presence of more than half of the registered members; or one hour after the announced time, without respect to the number of presence.
5. Registered members who cannot attend the Members Assembly personally, may appoint a representative by letter 48 hours before the Assembly, the appointee can have the right to vote after the approval of the Executive Council. Otherwise, it is considered as an abstention and nonperformance of member obligation.
6. If the current president, vice president and members of the Executive and Supervisory Council is absent in the Members Assembly or Extraordinary Members Assembly without a sound reason, it is considered as a breach to the Article 9 of the constitution.
Members can vote and decide on the continuity of the respective position. With the approval of at least three fourths of present registered members, the position is recalled and re-election should be arranged.
7. Every present member of the Members Assembly or Extraordinary Members Assembly processes only one vote. Registered members cannot be an appointed representative for other registered members. Requirement of a representative should also be abided by local law.
Article 15 ---- Executive Council consists of at least five members (odd numbers), who are elected in the Members Assembly. Responsibility and power of the Executive Council is as follows:
1. To fulfill all the aims of the Association； 2. To carry out the resolutions of the Assembly； 3. To draft the annual project plans for the Association; 4. To recruit members; 5. To report on the projects and budgets for the Association every year, 6. To select the spokesman for the Association; 7. To collect funds for the Association; 8. To plan and organize the various Association activities; 9. To report the activities in Members Assembly and make suggestion; 10. To facilitate the president to convene the Member Assembly.
Article 16 ---- Executive Council consists of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, and several other members. The chairman facilitates the president with the everyday administration of the Association, convene meetings of the Executive Council. When chairman is not available, vice chairman acts on his behalf. Chairman, Vice chairman and members of the different departments of Executive Council are elected within the Executive Council.
1. Members of the Executive Council is elected in the Members Assembly, with a term of office for three years, members can seek re-election. Positions within the Executive Council are elected within the Executive Council (number of members must be odd number).
2. Executive Council consists of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a secretary, a treasurer, an officer for general affairs and so on (which is adjustable according to the situation).
3. Executive Council is led by the chairman; when chairman is unavailable, vice chairman acts on his behalf.
4. If necessary, Executive Council may recruit a special committee and staff according to the activity nature.
Article 17 ---- Responsibility and power of the Supervisory Council
1. Supervise the administration of the Association;
2. Review and approve the budgets and financial reports of the Association;
3. Review and approve the annual report of the Association;
4. Perform the obligation given by the constitution and law.
Article 18 ---- Formation of the Supervisory Council
1. Members of the Supervisory Council is elected in the Members Assembly, with a term of office for three years, members can seek for re-election. Position in the Supervisory Council is elected within the Supervisory Council (number of members must be odd number); 2. Supervisory Council consists of a chairman, a vice chairman and several members; 3. Supervisory Council is led by the chairman; when chairman is unavailable, vice chairman acts on his behalf.
Chapter 4 Finance
Article 19 ---- Income and expenditure
A. Funding of the Association: membership fee, donation from members, income from various activities of the Association, publication and other products; or if necessary, collecting fund from associated organization or individuals; B. Income and expenditure of the Association:
1. Follow the budget approved by the Executive Council; 2. Set up formal account bookkeeping, record and report on all income and expenditure; 3. Recruit accountant to handle the financial accounting work; 4. Set up a band account;
5. Reviewed and approved by the Executive Council, announced in the Members Assembly.