Our Department also contributes to the training of junior psychiatrists through clinical attachment in the context of the Hong Kong Central Training Scheme for psychiatric training. The basic or pre-membership level is for trainees who have not yet obtained professional qualifications in psychiatry. In the past, the great majority of trainees took the UK-based MRCPsych examination. With the establishment of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (HKAM), the local qualification, the Fellowship of the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists (FHKCPsych) and the accompanying Fellowship of FHKAM (Psychiatry) is increasingly replacing the MRCPsych as the qualification of choice. Junior doctors are employed by the Hospital Authority as residents. The post-Membership level of training is for senior trainees who have already obtained the above qualifications in psychiatry. These doctors are usually employed as Specialist or Associate Consultants. Senior trainees are encouraged to take up a sub-specialty as their long-term career. The Department also contributes to the training of allied mental health professions such as clinical psychology, educational psychology, special education, social work, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Many students of these disciplines are given training in the Department, some for extensive periods.
Hong Kong is part of the Royal College (UK) training scheme. Senior members of our service regularly give lectures/seminars at the Central Academic Course of this training scheme. Senior staff members serve as examiners for the examinations of the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists. Nearly every senior faculty member is involved with the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists and several other Hong Kong-wide government and non-governmental organizations. Most academic staff have functions at the Faculty or University level.
