1. Introduction

Nurtured by the efforts of the chapter staff who all served as volunteers and with the support from the members and from the Society throughout these years, the Hong Kong Chapter has now grown to become one of the largest Chapters of ASHRAE.

2. Official Formation

The Charter of the Hong Kong Chapter was presented to Dr. Edwin H C Tao, its first Chapter President, at the Annual Meeting of ASHRAE held at Kansas City, USA, on Monday, June 18, 1984. One week later, on June 25, 1984, formal certification for approval of its formation, issued by the Hong Kong Government under its Societies Ordinance, officiated its legal existence in Hong Kong.

3. The First Chapter Staff

• President: Dr. Edwin H. C. TAO
• Vice President: Dr. Samuel P. W. WONG
• Secretary: Mr. Bryce D. E. HUNTER
• Treasurer: Mr. T. A. BERRECLOTH
• Committee Chairs: Mr. James WU, Mr. Philip CHIEN, Mr. C. O. SYNN, Mr. C. A. THOMPSON

Among these founding members, Dr Edwin Tao and Mr C O Synn are both still actively supporting the activities of the Chapter and are serving as members of the current Board of Governors.

4. The Chapter's Organization

5. Chapter Past Presidents

6. From Chapter-at-large to Member of Region X, to Member of Region XIII

The Chapter had a status of "chapter-at-large" for the first three years since formation, which means that it did not belong to any Region.

In Society Year 1987-88, the Chapter was assigned to Region X. Hong Kong Chapter, represented by Dr Edwin Tao in the CRC in California, had a voice and a vote in the Society for the first time.

During those early years when members were much fewer, the chapter staff would have to somewhat finance the operation. In year 1989, after the AGM when Mr C O Synn finished his term as Chapter President, he hosted a dinner to thank the outgoing and to welcome the incoming Chapter staff. Since then, this has become almost a tradition of the Hong Kong Chapter.

In year 1992, an ASHRAE Far East Conference was organized by ASHRAE headquarters to take place in Hong Kong. It was in this Conference that the idea of forming a new Region for the Far East chapters was proposed. The process of how it eventually evolved into the present Region XIII is recorded in the Region's History of Region XIII.

The first Student Branch of HK Chapter was initiated in year 1993 by Mr. Daniel Chan who was then the Secretary of the Chapter. That was Hong Kong Polytechnic Student Branch in year 1994.

On July 1, 1998, Region XIII, the first Region of ASHRAE outside North America, was officially formed. Hong Kong Chapter, together with Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan Chapters, being its founding chapters, naturally became a member of that Region at the same time. Mr Vincent Tse, a Past President of Hong Kong Chapter, was elected to be its first Director and Regional Chair (DRC).

The friendship, the opportunities, the guidance, and the strong support that the members of Region X have extended throughout the ten years of association have greatly contributed to the maturity of the Hong Kong Chapter.

In years 1999 & 2000, Philippines Chapter and Thailand Chapter have also joined in Region XIII to share friendship and support among other Chapters in this Region.

7. Present Membership Status (as of July 2006)

• Members / Associate Members : 683
• Fellow Members : 3
• Fellow Life Members :2
• Life Members : 13
• Life Associate Members : 4
• Affiliate Members : 3
• Retiree Members : 1
• Student Members : 230
• TOTAL NUMBER = 939 members
  

8. Past Activities

• Technical seminar : at least two times a year;
• Technical workshop : four workshops a year;
• Technical visit : at least one time a year;
• Annual joint symposium which are jointly organized with the Building Services Division of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE BSD) and the Hong Kong Branch of Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE Hong Kong Branch).

The following were the themes of our annual symposia since 1990:-

9. Recent Activities

Technical seminars, workshops, and technical visits are organized for the members so as to disseminate knowledge to serve the needs of the community.

Most of the Chapter's technical functions are jointly organized with the HKIE BSD and the CIBSE Hong Kong Branch. Among those activities is an annual symposium with local and overseas speakers drawing an attendance of over 200 professionals each time from local and overseas participants.

Starting from Society year 1999-2000, in addition to the joint functions, the Hong Kong Chapter also organizes technical activities of its own in order to extend benefits preferential to ASHRAE members and to further promote the image of ASHRAE.

*Prepared by Dr. Roger Chu, Historian of Hong Kong Chapter. July 2006.