Objects of The Institute

The two main objects of the Institute are

-to promote the general advancement of architecture and to promote and facilitate the acquisition of the knowledge of the various arts and sciences connected therewith;

-to raise the standard of architecture in Hong Kong and the standard of professional architectural services offered by members of the Institute.

Professional Qualification

In Hong Kong, registration of architects are governed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) under the Architects Registration Ordinance ( Chapter 408 ). Every year, graduates with recognized architectural education qualification and appropriate practical experience, aspiring to become a Registered Architect, can sit the Professional Assessment jointly held by the Institute and ARB. Successful candidates will be admitted as a Member of the Institute which, in accordance with the Architects Registration Ordinance, will be readily accepted as a Registered Architect by ARB. Alternatively for overseas professional architects with adequate relevant local experience, they can apply for HKIA membership and hence register as a Registered Architect in Hong Kong, through a Non-Local Architectural Professional (NLAP) followed with an interview held jointly by the Institute and ARB.

Accreditation of Architectural Education

The Institute works closely with the ARB to accredit the architectural courses offered by local universities and tertiary institutions and offers advice on the aspects of professional practice and practical experience in architecture.

Apart from recognition in Hong Kong, architectural programmes accredited by HKIA/ARB are also recognised by Mainland as well as a number of overseas countries such as, Australia and New Zealand under Mutual Recognition agreement with respective accrediting authority.

Service to The Public

The Institute also serves the public by applying the collective expertise of its members in an advisory role to government and the building industry. Today, HKIA is represented in numerous consultative or advisory bodies to government as well as non-government organizations. Moreover from time to time, HKIA would carry out various studies on issues of public interests and reflects the views of architectural profession to the public and the government.

International Participation

The Institute takes Hong Kong to the fore in international circles through its active participation in the International Union of Architects (UIA), the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA), the Architects Regional Council of Asia (ARCASIA) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas in relation to all aspects of architecture and matters in connection with the architectural profession.

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED being met together on the third day of September in the year one thousand nine hundred and fifty-six and being desirous of forming a Society in the Colony of Hong Kong for the general advancement of Civil Architecture and for promoting and facilitating the acquirement of the knowledge of the various Arts and Sciences connected therewith DO HEREBY BAND OURSELVES TOGETHER IN A SOCIETY TO BE KNOWN AS THE HONG KONG SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTS and do undertake as Foundation Members to subscribe to the funds and be bound by the Rules of the Society AND DO FURTHER DECLARE AND AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
 

1. that the Society shall consist of Members, Honorary Members, Associates, Graduates and Students;
    
2. that the Society shall elect and be governed by a Council consisting of a President, two Vice-Presidents, and such other Officers and Members of Council as it may decide;
    
3. that the Society shall make such Rules for its own good governance and the conduct of its members as it may from time to time think fit;
    
4. that the Society shall have power in its corporate name to acquire, hold and dispose of property and funds and shall to this end comply with Ordinances of the Government of Hong Kong;
    
5. that the Society shall invite and have as its Patron a person of eminence in colony.
   
   J T Mallorie
   J S Hirst
   D G Farrow
   R J Phillips
   Faitfone Wong
   W W C Shewan
   Pak C Kwong
   Stanley Kwok
   T S C Feltham
   G G Djou
   Koon Hing Cheang
   A J Brandt
   A V Alvares
   Patricia Mayne
   W Elder Levie
   J C Charter
   A M J Wright
   J B Aitken
   T C Yuen
   Wm S Ing
   H S Luke
   William Ling
   Bjorn Nedberg
   G Hollmann
   W G Gregory
   G D Su

(Subscribed by the Foundation Members at the Second Inaugural Meeting of the Society on 3rd September, 1956)

Please click HERE to view the Rules of The Institute

Membership of the Institute comprises of 2 main categories by individual or by architectural practice.

Category By Individual

1. Honorary Fellows (By Invitation Only)

Honorary Fellows shall be such persons of eminence as the Institute may wish to honour and whose membership would further the objects of the Institute
 

Honorary Fellow

• Mr. Cesar PELLI (2006)
• Mr. YE Ru Tang 葉如棠 (1993)
• Mr. Denis G. LEVETT (1999)
• Sir David AKERS-JONES 鍾逸傑爵士 (2006)
• Ir. Dr. CHENG Hon Kwan 鄭漢鈞博士 (2006)
• Prof. Tunney F. LEE 李燦輝教授 (2006)
• Mr. KERR Keith Graham (2007)
• Mr. SONG Chun Hua 宋春華 (2007)
• Mr. HE Jing Tang 何鏡堂 (2009)
• Mr. ZHANG Qinnan 張欽楠 (2010)
• Mrs Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor 林鄭月娥 (2012)
• Prof. SHEN Yue 沈粤 (2014)
• Mr. Nicholas BROOKE 蒲祿祺 (2015)
• Mr. CUI Kai 崔愷 (2015)
• Mr. Bing THOM 譚秉榮 (2016)
• Prof. Alexander TZONIS (2018)
• Ms. Yolanda David REYES (2023)

2. Members

Members shall be qualified architects, duly nominated and elected by the Council of the Institute, who

a. are members of any other architects’ association, institution or register recognized by the Council for the purpose of admission, or

b. hold a degree or a diploma in architecture recognized by the Council, have two years post - graduate architectural experience or its equivalent as defined by the Council from time to time and who have passed the HKIA/ARB Professional Assessment or its approved equivalent.
 

3. Fellows

Members who have had a minimum of 15 years standing in the Institute and in practice for 15 years (relevant experience in the academic or the public sectors being recognized) or have made a significant contribution to the work of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects or to the field of architecture shall be elected as Fellows subject to the approval of the Council.
 

4. Associates

Associates shall be persons who have completed a course of study in architecture and

a. a professional diploma / degree in Architecture obtained on completion of a five-year or equivalent, full-time course of study, which is recognized by a national accrediting body in the country in which the degree is conferred.
 

AND

b.1. being a current full member of an established architectural institution which has a status equivalent to that of HKIA in its country of origin at the time of application.

b.2. possessing professional experience in architecture or in a related field for a minimum of 5 years full time obtained after the acquisition of a professional diploma degree in Architecture as required in (a) above.
 

OR

b.3. are working as a full-time teaching staff of the course(s) of study in architecture in a University or School recognized by the Council with certification of the Head of the Department at the time of application.

Associates may use the statement ‘Associate of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects’ or the title ‘Associate H.K.I.A.’ after their names.
 

5. Affiliates

Affiliates shall be persons or categories of persons considered by the Council to have a connection with the architectural profession and who are suitable to be admitted as Affiliates of the Institute.

Affiliates may use the statement ‘Affiliate of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects’ or ‘Affiliate HKIA’ after their names.
 

6. Graduate Members

Graduate Members shall be persons who

a. possess a degree or diploma in the field of architectural studies from a University or School recognised by the Council, or

b. have passed any professional examination in architecture recognised by the Council.
 

7. Student Members

Student Members shall be persons who are enrolled in courses of study in architecture in a University or School recognized by the Council.
 

8. Retired Members

Retired Members shall be any Member, Associate or Graduate Member who has retired from practice and ceased to draw remuneration from architectural work, subject always to the approval of the Council.
 

9. Non-Resident Members

Any Member, Associate or Graduate Member who is not ordinarily resident in Hong Kong may apply for a change of membership status to Non-Resident Member, subject always to the approval of the Council.
 

Category By Architectural Practice

1. Corporate Members

Corporate Members shall be corporations carrying on an architectural practice in Hong Kong that has –

1. at least one of the directors of the corporation being a Foundation Member, a Member, or a Fellow of the Institute;
 

AND

2.a. at least 30% of the directors of the corporation being Foundation Members, Members, and/or Fellows of the Institute;
 

OR

2.b. at least 30% of the voting rights of the corporation being held by Foundation Members, Members, and/or Fellows of the Institute;
 

Rights and Benefits

The rights and benefits for respective category of membership are tabulated below.



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In addition to the statutory responsibilities of architects as professionals under law, members of the Institute are governed by a Code of Professional Conduct. This Code aims to maintain the integrity and status of the architectural profession and to discourage dishonourable conduct and practices in the architectural profession.

A member whose conduct is found to be in contravention of the Code or dishonouring the principle of the Code is liable to reprimand, suspension or expulsion. This ensures that the public receives from HKIA members only the highest standard of professional service.

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