The 32nd Hongkong Orthopedic Association Annual Congress

CEBU, Philippines - Personal experiences arising from travels around the globe has set a level of understanding for competency higher than those who have lesser account. So when this writer was to attend the 32nd Hongkong Orthopedic Association Annual Congress as this country’s ambassador, there were no second thoughts.

The plane from Cebu was set to arrive in Hongkong at one in the morning on November 31st only to be delayed by an hour because Cebu was celebrating the sainthood of Pedro Calungsod and the airport was expecting the arrival of President Aquino. It was worth the wait though because the pleasant reception at Harbour View Hotel offered a panoramic view of magnificent Hongkong embellished by the Christmas season lights. The hotel was also a view’s location away from HK Convention and Exhibition Centre, the venue for the convention.

The first day of the convention on December 1, 2012 saw concurrent free paper sessions. The brief ordeal gave me a chance to meet and greet colleagues, friends and former co-employees of Queen Mary Hospital and Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital. Thereafter, the formal opening ceremony, recognition of international delegates and ambassadors and the president’s speech followed.

Lunch was superb at the New Shanghai Restaurant. Overseas, mainland and local speakers, ambassadors and invited guests were treated to a sumptuous Oriental cuisine. Sessions were very informative in the afternoon, but the real treat was the dinner banquet at the fourth floor of the convention centre which was also serenaded by a live band. It was also at that time that the awards and recognition took place and a formal turnover from the old to the new council transpired. This writer received a plaque of appreciation for representing the Philippine Orthopedic association, where former bosses at Hongkong Medical Centre congratulated this recipient.

On its second day, a very interesting lecture on “Hip and Knee Reconstruction Challenges and Controversies” was delivered.

During the tea break, I exited from the building to visit close contacts at QM hospital and DKC hospital.

The program was formally closed by the president of HK Orthopedic association, Dr. Yeun-lun Lee.

For the remaining free time, I wandered across the city by a 25K run. This just made time for the one a.m. flight back to Cebu. The return would also mean better knowhow for practical application in which many of our fellow Cebuanos will be benefited from this journey.

I would like to thank God, family and the Philippine Orthopedic

Association for the support. (FREEMAN)