Page 48 - HKU Surgery 110 Anniversary E-Book

Chapter II: Hong Kong’s First Academic Surgical Unit

Digby and His Legacy

Professor Kenelm Hutchinson Digby, OBE, FRCS, came to Hong Kong from
London, where he was a prize-winning student at Guy’s Hospital (MBBS 1907) and
published a notable finding in 1911 that identified subepithelial lymphatic glands
as the self-immunising stations of the body . He was also Registrar to renowned
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British surgeon, Sir William Arbuthnot Lane, and brought his “no-touch technique”
to Hong Kong.

Digby’s warm relationship with students stemmed not only from teaching but from
play – he often engaged in chess and tennis games with both students and Faculty
members. In 1914, Digby and recent graduate Dr GH Thomas (MBBS 1914) co-
founded the Medical Society, which later became the HKU Students’ Union Medical
Society and published Caduceus. Digby also proved to be a capable administrator,
acting as Dean on three occasions, 1915-16, 1920-22 and 1923-25.

Digby’s legacy has been memorialised in several ways:

The KH Digby Memorial Fund, established in 1955 by grateful students,
colleagues, friends and patients, who raised $40,000 to support the development
of academic surgery at HKU, including the Digby Memorial Scholarship to
support students in need and young doctors in taking electives and overseas
training.

The Digby Gold Medal in Surgery, established to honour the student with
the highest result in the Final MBBS Examination in surgery.

The Digby Memorial Lecture, initiated in 1969 to invited speakers of
eminence within and outside medicine to deliver a distinguished lecture in
their area of excellence, followed by a black-tie dinner. The first lecture was
delivered by Professor Sir John Bruce of the UK. (Appendix - list of Digby
Memorial Lecturers)

“No student ever feared him; they loved and admired him for
the way he treated them, taught them, and inspired them.”
- Dr GH Thomas (MBBS 1914) on Digby -

Digby Memorial Lecture and post-event dinner held on 24 May 2024.

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