Page 10 - HKU Surgery 110 Anniversary E-Book

On behalf of The University of Hong Kong, I would like
to extend my warmest congratulations to the Department
of Surgery as it marks an incredible 110 years of surgical
excellence, innovation, and clinical practice here in Hong
Kong.
The roots of the Department’s distinguished heritage
run deep, tracing back to the very foundations of medical
education in Hong Kong at the end of the 19th century, when
The University of Hong Kong’s predecessor institution - The
Hong Kong College of Medicine - first introduced classes
on surgical principles and practices. This legacy is built on passion, resilience, and a
relentless pursuit of excellence.
Since the founding of the Department in 1915 within the University’s Medical
Faculty, it has grown into a leading force in education, research and clinical care, making
significant contributions both locally and globally. Today, its commitment to nurturing
the next generation of aspiring surgeons remains as strong as ever, ensuring that students
are equipped not only with practical skills and technical knowledge but also with caring
and compassionate professionalism.
The Department also stands at the forefront of research excellence and innovation,
steadfastly pushing boundaries and advancing the frontiers of surgical science. Its efforts
to foster global collaborations and share knowledge are truly commendable, and I have
always been inspired by how each breakthrough helps shape the future of surgery – not
just in Hong Kong but around the world.
On this special milestone, I would like to thank every faculty member, researcher,
and graduate whose dedication has propelled the Department forward. Your enthusiasm
has advanced the field and contributed greatly to our community in numerous ways. I am
confident that with your ongoing commitment, the Department’s prestige and influence
will only grow stronger in the years ahead.
Cheers to 110 years of remarkable accomplishments. It is truly an honour to be part
of this journey.
Professor Xiang Zhang
President and Vice-Chancellor
The University of Hong Kong
10 | Department of Surgery 110 Anniversary
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Hong Kong’s story is one of audacity and transformation. From
a humble beginning as a small fishing village, our city has, in less than
two centuries, become a vibrant metropolis and a singular crossroads
where East both meets and merges with West. Woven through this
civic evolution is the equally compelling history of Hong Kong’s
medicine and surgery: a tradition of inquiry and service that has
both shaped, and been shaped by, the city we call home. Within that
tapestry, HKUMed’s Department of Surgery is a vital strand whose
work has left a lasting imprint on Hong Kong’s story as a whole.
Surgery has stood at the heart of HKUMed since its earliest
days. With the establishment of a professorship in surgery in 1915,
the Department set out on a purposeful journey towards modern,
evidence-based practice. Over 110 years, our surgeons and scholars have helped set the pace for Hong
Kong and the region, playing a seminal role in surgical education, championing rigorous clinical and
translational research, pioneering transformative procedures, and introducing leading-edge surgical
techniques. They did so not in a vacuum, but through wars, social upheavals and transitions, epidemics,
and resource constraints – turning adversity into impetus for innovation and better patient outcomes.
History, however, is never an abstraction; it is made by people. The Department’s progress has
been steered by leaders of uncommon insight and resolve: from foundational figures who set high
standards of surgical education and practice, to innovators who put Hong Kong on the world map
with revolutionary operations, to educators who brought the world to Hong Kong through scholarship
and exchange, and to the stewards who solidified our leadership while moving with the times. Their
collective vision, technical mastery, and moral courage advanced surgical science not only for Hong
Kong, but across the wider world, while mentoring generations who now carry that torch.
Yet our gaze is not fixed on the past; it is firmly set on tomorrow. The same qualities that have
sustained the Department for over a century – curiosity, adaptability, and a visionary spirit – will serve
it well as AI, big data, new technologies, and advanced materials transform how we train, diagnose,
operate, and heal. With its culture of teamwork, its strength spanning clinical service, education, and
research, and its deep partnerships across the region, the Department is poised not merely to adapt,
but to lead and to define what surgical excellence means in the decades ahead.
I thank our colleagues and all contributors who have brought this commemorative volume to
life. I am sure this account is a fitting tribute to all those who have served the Department brilliantly
and selflessly, and that it will inspire us to imagine boldly and to serve with purpose.
I offer my warmest congratulations to all members of the Department, past and present, on
the occasion of its 110th anniversary! May this proud legacy propel us to new frontiers, and may our
community continue to break new ground in the years to come!
Professor Lau Chak-Sing
Dean
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
The University of Hong Kong
Department of Surgery 110 Anniversary | 11
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