ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter was founded in year 1984, initiated by several ASHRAE members among the leaders of the HVAC&R industry in Hong Kong who had the vision, the enthusiasm, and the great minds of serving.
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.
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. The official charter date of the Hong Kong Chapter was on October 18, 1984.
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. |
Name | Society Year |
Edwin Tao | 1984-85 |
Samuel Wong | 1985-86 |
Terry Berrecloth | 1986-87 |
Brian Hunter | 1987-88 |
Chun-on Synn | 1988-89 |
Alan Thompson | 1989-90 |
Vincent Tse | 1990-91 |
Rick Kroos | 1991-92 |
Daniel Chan | 1992-93 |
Wong, Wai-Kwong | 1993-94 |
Roger Chu | 1994-95 |
Francis Pang | 1995-96 |
Philip Yu | 1996-97 |
Wai-Keung Pau | 1997-98 |
Alan Ying-wai Lam | 1998-99 |
T T Chow | 1999-00 |
Edward Tsui | 2000-01 |
Victor Yiu | 2001-02 |
Raymond Yau | 2002-03 |
Vincent Chu | 2003-04 |
Tim Cheng | 2004-05 |
Chan, Tsz Kin | 2005-06 |
Sam C.M. Hui | 2006-07 |
Li, Siu Lam | 2007-08 |
Chan, Ka Lung Raymond | 2008-09 |
Tang, Chi Hang Calvin | 2009-10 |
Mo, Cheung Ying Eagle | 2010-11 | Lin, Wan Fuk Albert | 2011-12 | Lo, Chan Kit Albert | 2012-13 | Pang, Ching Man Tracy | 2013-14 | Chan, Hei Kin Thomas | 2014-15 | Wong, Chun Sing | 2015-16 | Tung, Sin Lok Dennis | 2016-17 | Sung, Ka Leung Michael | 2017-18 | Wong, Shu Hung | 2018-19 |
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. In years 2007 & 2008, Indonesia Chapter have also joined in Region XIII to share friendship and support among other Chapters in this Region. |
7. Present Membership Status (as of May 2019)
In February 1999, Mr C O Synn, a Fellow Member of Hong Kong Chapter, was invited by the Society's College of Fellows as a member in their Advisory Committee. |
Hong Kong Chapter organized different kinds of technical functions and visits in past years. The following were our regular activities in each Society year:-
The following were the themes of our annual symposia since 1990:-
Year | Theme |
1990 | Sick Building Syndrome and Building Related Illness |
1991 | Fire & Safety Systems in Buildings |
1992 | Energy Efficient Buildings |
1993 | Environmental Impact of Building Services Engineering |
1994 | Healthy Buildings in the Urban Environment |
1995 | Engineering Intelligent Buildings |
1996 | Electrical Services in Buildings |
1997 | Building. Energy & Environment |
1998 | Indoor Environmental Quality |
1999 | Building Services in 21st Century |
2000 | Advances in Building Services |
2001 | Towards Environmental Sustainability |
2002 | Achieving Sustainable Performance in Built Environment |
2003 | Innovation and Integrated Building Performance |
2004 | Servicing Dense Built Environment |
2005 | New Challenges in Building Services |
2006 | Efficient Built Environment for Tomorrow |
2007 | Building Services Engineering for a World Class City |
2008 | Shaping Our Future Environment - The Role of Building Services Professionals |
2009 | Design for Sustainable Performance |
2010 | Low Carbon High Performance Buildings |
2011 | Integrated Building Design in the New Era of Sustainability |
2012 | The Challenge of Building Innovation in Ecological Revitalization |
2013 | Innovation and Technology for Built Environment |
2014 | Chance in Building Services For Future |
2015 | Next Gen Technology to make Green Building Sustainability |
2016 | Building A Smarter City via Latest Technologies |
2017 | Smart Journey Towards Green Infinity |
2018 | Innovative Technology Fusion for Next Challenging Century |
Hong Kong Chapter follows the tradition of adhering to the motto of ASHRAE - "Advancing HVAC&R to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world;." 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 1984-2019, 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. *Updated by Mr. W.K. Pau, Historian of Hong Kong Chapter. August 2019. |
10. Historic Photos
1989-90
1999-2000
ASHRAE President Terry Townsend visited HKIE, 2006-2007
ASHRAE President Terry Townsend visited HKIE, 2006-2007
Terry Townsend met past presidents of HKC, 2006-2007
Terry Townsend met young student members, 2006-2007