Molecular Biotechnology Alumni Association, CUHK.

The Constitution

SECTION ONE: GENERAL PROVISIONS

ARTICLE ONE: NAME

The name of the association shall be "Molecular Biotechnology Alumni Association, CUHK" ( 香 港 中 文 大 學 分 子 生 物 技 術 學 舊 生 會 ), hereinafter referred to as "the Association".

ARTICLE TWO: ADDRESS

The registered office and postal address of the Association shall be "Molecular Biotechnology Programme, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong", or such other places as may be decided upon by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE THREE: OBJECTS

The objects of the Association shall be

a) To promote friendship and co-operation amongst graduates of the Molecular Biotechnology Programme at The Chinese University of Hong  Kong. (hereinafter called "the Programme").

b) To establish closer relationship amongst members of the Association, the Programme and the existing students thereof.

c) To promote the advancement of education by such means as the Association may think fit.

d) To do all such other lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them.

ARTICLE FOUR: ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL PERIODS

The administrative and financial periods of the Association shall have the duration of two years, from the first day of October to the thirtieth day of September of the year after the following year.

SECTION TWO: MEMBERSHIP

ARTICLE FIVE: ADMISSION

There are two classes of membership:

a) Regular member: the following categories of graduates are eligible to apply for membership, namely B.Sc., M. Phil., Ph.D.(Molecular Biotechnology).

b) Honorary member: Any individual who has contributed to the Association and been elected by over two-third of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE SIX: RIGHTS

a)  Regular member

i) Regular members shall enjoy the right to attend and vote at the General Meetings to elect, and to stand for election. They are entitled to take part in all activities organized by the Association and to partake of all the benefits therefrom;

ii) Upon his application in writing, any member will be allowed to inspect the account books of the Association. Applications must be made in advance to the Executive Committee to allow reasonable time to make the necessary documents available for such inspection.

b)  Honorary member

Hononary members are entitled to take part in all activities organized by the Association and to partake of all the benefits therefrom.

ARTICLE SEVEN: OBLIGATIONS

To comply with the Constitution and with the resolutions of the General Meetings.

ARTICLE EIGHT: TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

a) Any member may withdraw from the Association by giving notice in writing to the Executive Committee of his/her intention so to do.

b) Any member who shall, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, have willfully acted in breach of the Constitution of the Association, or who shall have been guilty of such conduct as shall have rendered him unfit to continue to be a member of the Association, shall be liable to have his/her membership terminated if the Executive Committee shall so decide.

SECTION THREE: GENERAL MEETINGS

ARTICLE NINE:

The General Meetings shall be constituted by the whole body of Regular members and shall be vested with the highest authority in the Association.

ARTICLE TEN:

The General Meetings shall be called by the Chairman of the Executive Committee who shall also serve as the Chairman of the Meetings.

ARTICLE ELEVEN:

Ten working days' notice of a General Meeting shall be given by the Secretary of the Executive Committee to all members with the agenda thereof, and no business not on such agenda shall be discussed if the Chairman of the Meeting or more than five voting members present objects.

ARTICLE TWELVE:

At least one General Meeting shall be held during the term of office of the Executive Committee. The Chairman of the Association shall be empowered in case of necessity to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting by giving three working days' notice with the agenda thereof.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN:

Upon the written request of more than twenty Regular members, an Extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened by the Chairman, its business being confined to the specific business for which the meeting is requested.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN: QUORUM

The quorum for any General Meeting shall be formed by whatever number of Regular members present. Motions shall be carried on the basis of a majority vote by the Regular members present, except on those matters regarding the change in the name of the Association, dissolution and any other matters for which requisite votes are prescribed by the Constitution of the Association.

ARTICLE FIFTEEN:

The General Meeting shall be empowered:

a) To make, alter, amend or rescind the Constitution;

b) To elect members of Executive Committee;

c) To inspect the Executive Committee's general report and to approve its financial statement;

d) To determine the policies of the Association;

e) To discuss and pass resolution on other related matters.

SECTION FOUR: REFERENDA

ARTICLE SIXTEEN:

On issues concerning a) dissolution of the Association and b) any other matters of prime importance as decided upon in a General Meeting, a referendum shall be held among all Regular members of the Association.

ARTICLE SEVENTEEN:

The Executive Committee shall administer the referendum, and shall ensure that members have at least five working days to vote on the issues, and that fair representation is given to different views within the Association on the subject at issue.

ARTICLE EIGHTEEN:

Unless the Constitution rules otherwise, the motion raised in a referendum shall be adopted only if over half of the votes cast are favourable, provided that such a number of favourable votes are not less than one-quarter of Regular members.

SECTION FIVE: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

ARTICLE NINETEEN: COMPOSITION

The Executive Committee shall consist of a minimum of six members including one Chairman, one Internal Vice-chairman, one External Vice-chairman, one Secretary, one Treasurer and one (or more) Information Technology Support. Additional members shall be assigned as Executive Members or other posts specified.

ARTICLE TWENTY: TERM OF OFFICE

a) All members of the Executive Committee shall have a term of office of two years.

b) The Chairman of the Executive Committee shall not serve for more than two consecutive terms as Chairman.

ARTICLE TWENTY-ONE: POWERS

During the intervals between General Meetings, the Executive Committee shall have the authority to deal with the following matters:

a) To process the membership of the Association;

b) To hold all elections and referenda;

c) To make the policies of the Association.

ARTICLE TWENTY-TWO: ORGANIZATION

a) The Chairman or, in his absence, an Acting Chairman designated by him from amongst the Executive Committee members, shall preside at all meetings.

b) The Internal Vice-chairman shall assist the Chairman in all internal affairs of the committee and coordinate the members of the executive committee who are involved in internal affairs.

c) The External Vice-chairman shall assist the Chairman in all external affairs of the committee and coordinate the members of the executive committee who are involved in external affairs.

d) The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping the register of members and records of the Association; for sending notices and agenda, and keeping the records of all Executive Committee and General Meetings; for the administration of elections and referenda under the supervision of the Chairman; and for the preparation of other documents of the Association.

e) The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping the Official Chop of the Association, and for the safe-keeping and proper use of the Association's funds and for managing all financial affairs as directed by the Chairman; and to prepare a financial statement for presentation to the General Meeting.

f) The Treasurer or the Chairman, in conjunction with the official chop of the Association, shall sign cheques or withdraw cash on behalf of the Association.

g) The Information Technology Support shall provide information technology assistance to the committee and maintenance of the Association webpage.

ARTICLE TWENTY-THREE: RESIGNATION AND REPLACEMENT

a) In the event of the Chairman's dismissal or voluntary resignation from office, the new Chairman shall be chosen amongst the serving members of the Executive Committee.

b) In the event of resignation of any other member of the Executive Committee, the Committee may co-opt Regular members of the Association for replacement.

c) Any replacement shall serve until the end of the selfsame administrative period.

ARTICLE TWENTY-FOUR: MEETINGS

a) Executive Committee meetings shall be convened by the Chairman.

b) The Committee shall meet no less than two times during its administrative period.

c) The quorum for Committee meetings shall be two-thirds of the Committee members. A motion is adopted if favored by the majority of the members present. In case of the motion is supported by half of the Committee members present, the determinant vote shall be placed by the Chairman (or the Acting Chairman).

d) Notice of absence should be placed twenty-four hours in advance to the Secretary.

SECTION SIX: ELECTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

ARTICLE TWENTY-FIVE: NOMINATION

Nomination of the members of the Executive Committee shall be received by the Executive Committee at least 20 working days before the General Meeting.

ARTICLE TWENTY-SIX:

a) The Executive Committee shall be elected at a General Meeting of the Association by two-third of the Regular members present (or by proxy) and two-third of the Executive members present (or by proxy).

b) A member may appoint another member by proxy to vote on his behalf, with the proxy lodged with the Executive Committee before next meeting.

SECTION SEVEN : FINANCE

ARTICLE TWENTY-SEVEN:

The Executive Committee shall be empowered to receive voluntary contributions to the Association.

ARTICLE TWENTY-EIGHT:

The Executive Committee shall make all financial policies of the Association and shall ensure that they are carried out, and shall protect its funds against extravagance or misappropriation, and shall give instructions as to the investment of funds of the Association which are not for current expenses.

ARTICLE TWENTY-NINE:

The Executive Committee shall present a financial statement towards the end of each financial period to the General Meeting for approval.

ARTICLE THIRTY:

Members of the Association, either as individuals or in their official capacities, shall not be responsible for any debt or liability incurred in contravention of the Constitution by any officer(s) of the Association. Otherwise any debt or liability of the Association shall be the joint responsibility of all those who are regular members of the Association at the time such debt or liability is incurred.

ARTICLE THIRTY-ONE:

The funds of the Association may be used with the authority of the Executive Committee only for the following purposes:

a) The payment of expenses for the activities and administration of the Association;

b) The payment for purposes approved at General Meetings.

SECTION EIGHT: OFFICIAL CHOP AND CONTRACT

ARTICLE THIRTY-TWO:

a) The Association shall have two Official Chops which shall be in the safe custody of the Treasurer and Chairman, and they shall only be used by the authority delegated by the Executive Committee.

b) Any contract or instrument made by the Executive Committee on behalf of the Association required the pre-assigned official chop (Appendix 1) and the signature of either the Treasurer or Secretary.

SECTION NINE : AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE THIRTY-THREE:

General Meeting shall be the only authority to rescind, alter or add to any of the provisions of this Constitution.

ARTICLE THIRTY-FOUR:

Amendment of this Constitution shall only be made in the following manner. The motion for amendment(s) must be proposed either by the Executive Committee, or by over twenty Regular members to the Executive Committee in writing. Amendments shall be approved by at least two-thirds of the Regular members present at a General Meeting and be subjected to the approval of the Registrar of Societies before they can be effective.

SECTION TEN : DISSOLUTION

ARTICLE THIRTY-FIVE:

The Association shall not be dissolved except under the following circumstances. The motion for dissolution must be proposed by not less than twenty Regular members to the Executive Committee in writing; it must have the support of over three-fourths of the votes cast, provided that such a number of favourable votes is not less than one half of the Regular members, in a referendum before it is finally adopted.

ARTICLE THIRTY-SIX:

In the case of dissolution all the funds and properties of the Association shall be made over to a society or societies of similar nature, or applied to charitable purposes, as the Executive Committee may determine.

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