An introduction
GCAN was proposed to be set up by participants at the satellite symposium
of the Hong Kong AIDS Foundation held during the Melbourne Conference in
2001.
With the help of a Preparatory Committee making up of members from Australia, HKSAR, PRC, Singapore and Taiwan, GCAN was formally inaugurated at the Barcelona Conference in 2002 and incorporated in Hong Kong on 6th September 2002 as a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital.
Objects
As a non-governmental organization, GCAN, among other things, aims to undertake all activities to curb the spread of HIV infection by: -(1) connecting all those working on HIV/AIDS in Chinese communities in the development of prevention and intervention programmes and other relevant initiatives;
(2) increasing the knowledge and developing the skills of its members;
(3) promoting access to treatment, care and acceptance of persons infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS;
(4) enhancing communication and dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS;
(5) fostering research and collaborative activities; and
(6) encouraging cooperation with other professional, business and public and private sector organizations in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Members of the First Executive Council
The following are Members of GCAN's First Executive Council: -(1) Mr. Chan Leong-koon (Australia);
(2) Dr. Roy Chan Kum-wah (Singapore);
(3) Professor Arthur Chen Yi-ming (Taipei);
(4) Ms. Suzanne Lau-Gooey (Australia);
(5) Dr. Leong Che-hung (HKSAR);
(6) Dr. Patrick Li Chung-ki (HKSAR);
(7) Ms. Li Ling (PRC); and
(8) Professor Zhang Kong-lai (PRC).
Officers of the GCAN
The Officers of GCAN are as follows: -
(1) Chairman - Dr. Leong Che-hung
(2) Vice-Chairmen - Professor Arthur Chen Yi-ming and
Professor Zhang Kong-lai
(3) Hon. Secretary - Dr. Patrick Li Chung-ki
(4) Hon. Treasurer - Dr. Roy Chan Kum-wah
Secretariat
The Hong Kong AIDS Foundation
Advisers to GCAN
(1) Professor Dai Zi-cheng;
(2) Dr. Tim France
(3) Dr. David D. Ho;
(4) Professor Shen Jie; and
(5) Dr. Homer Tso.
Membership
(1) Honorary Members
Honorary Members are those invited by the Executive Council and who, in
the opinion of the Executive Council, have made significant contribution
to HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention and adhere to the objects and
values of the Network.
(2) Founding Members
Founding Members are those who were invited prior to the date of incorporation
of the Network by the Preparatory Committee of the Network to become a
Founding Member of the Network.
(6) Ordinary Members
(a) Any individual who is actively involved in all or any aspects of AIDS
work in a Chinese community and who adheres to the objects and values
of the Network may become an Ordinary Individual Member. An application
by this category of member must be endorsed by an organization recognized
by the Network.
(b) Any organization, corporate or unincorporated, that is actively involved in all or any aspects of AIDS work in a Chinese community and that adheres to the objects and values of the Network may become an Ordinary Organizational Member.
(7) Affiliated Members
(a) Any individual who has an interest in and wishes to be associated
with the work of the Network and adheres to the objects and values of
the Network may become an Affiliated Individual Member.
(b) Any organization, corporate or unincorporated, that has an interest in and wishes to be associated with the work of the Network and adheres to the objects and values of the Network may become an Affiliated Organizational Member.
Rights and obligations of Members
(1) All Members shall fulfill the following obligations:-
(a) to observe and comply with the Memorandum and Articles of Association
and the By-laws of the Network and all resolutions and regulations passed
or adopted by the Network or the Executive Council, as the case may be;
and
(b) to pay the membership fees (as the case may be) as and when they fall due save and except the Honorary Members.
(2) All Members shall have the right to attend and to speak at general
meetings.
(a) Founding Individual Members shall have the right to nominate Individual
Members for election to the Council and can stand for election to Council,
but shall not have the right to vote at general meetings.
(b) Founding Organizational Members shall have the right to nominate Individual Members for election to the Council and vote at general meetings, but shall not be eligible to hold office in the Network.
(c) Ordinary Individual Members shall have the right to nominate Individual Members for election to the Council and can stand for election to Council, but shall not have the right to vote at general meetings.
(d) Ordinary Organizational Members shall have the right to nominate Individual Members for election to the Council and to vote at general meetings, but shall not be eligible to hold office in the Network.
(e) Affiliated Individual Members shall have the right to nominate Individual Members for election to the Council, but shall have no voting rights and shall not be eligible to hold office in the Network.
(f) Affiliated Organizational Members shall have the right to nominate Individual Members for election to the Council, but shall have no voting rights and shall not be eligible to hold office in the Network.
(g) Honorary Members may attend and speak at general meetings but shall have no right to nominate members for election to the Council, no voting rights and no right to stand for election to the Board.
Application for membership
Application for membership shall be made in a form provided by the Network.
Every application for admission shall be considered by the Executive Council
and may be acceded to or refused at their absolute discretion and the
Executive Council shall not be obliged to furnish any reason whatsoever
for accepting or rejecting any application for membership. Upon the payment
of membership fee*, an elected candidate shall become a Member of the
Network.
Activities in the coming two years
The following activities have been planned for the coming two years: -(1) Recruitment of Members;
(2) Design of a GCAN web-page;
(3) The setting up of an e-forum for members to share on an on-going basis information, knowledge, experience and skills relating to HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention in Chinese communities;
(4) Hosting of a satellite meeting at the Kobe Conference in 2003;
(5) Production of a Members' directory to facilitate communications;
(6) Holding of GCAN Annual General Meeting during the Kobe Conference;
(7) Hosting of a satellite meeting/skills building workshop at the Bangkok Conference in 2004; and
(8) Participation in events in line with GCAN's objects and values.
To know more about GCAN, You can contact the Secretariat of GCAN: -1. by mail - 5/F., Shaukeiwan Jockey Club Clinic, 8 Chai Wan Road, Hong Kong;
2. by fax - (852) 2560 4154;
3. by telephone - (852) 2560 8528; or
4. by e-mail - hkaf@hkaf.com
*
The Executive Council of GCAN has the discretion to waive the membership
fee of certain applicants.
