The Hong Kong Medical Association, formerly called the Hong Kong Chinese Medical Association, was founded in 1920 with the aims to maintain and improve standards of medical practice in Hong Kong, and to foster friendly relations both professionally and socially amongst all registered doctors in Hong Kong, irrespective of race, colour or creed.

To represent the interests of medical practitioners in Hong Kong, the Association nominates members to serve various medical and related statutory and non-statutory institutions including the Medical Council of Hong Kong, Council of Smoking and Health (COSH), Pharmacy and Poisons Board, etc.

The Association is managed by a Council elected from the general membership. The Council is assisted by 30 standing committees to oversee various issues relating to the medical profession, membership welfare as well as public medical education.

With a membership of HKMA of approximately 7,000 which comprises the majority of registered medical practitioners in Hong Kong, the HKMA represents the medical profession in the territory both locally and in the international scene. Being a member of the World Medical Association and the Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia & Oceania, the Hong Kong Medical Association maintains a close link with its international counterparts for exchanges of views and experience in various policy and professional matters.

In addition, the Hong Kong Medical Association and the Chinese Medical Association of Mainland China exchange visits to each other every year to promote friendly relationship and understanding of medical development in the two places.

To put into practice the motto of HKMA "To Safeguard the Health of the People" and with aims to serve the community, the Association has been participating actively in disseminating medical knowledge among the public. The public medical education programmes which involve the volunteer services of over a hundred doctors include medical educational press releases, radio doctor programmes, TV doctor programmes, public medical lectures and exhibits and publication of educational pamphlets/booklets.

In recent years, the Association promotes organ donation and organizes organ donation campaigns. A computerized central register of willing organ donors has been set up and connected to all organ transplant centres in Hong Kong. Exhibitions and educational activities are constantly being held to promote the concept of cadaveric organ donation.

To the members, the Association offers a variety of recreational facilities, e.g. Clubhouse, Conference room facilities etc. Besides, monthly Newsletter reporting the Association's activities and commenting on controversial medical issues is published to enhance communication between members and the HKMA Council, and amongst the membership. To encourage academic study and research, quarterly Journals are published for members to run their academic papers and to announce the results of their academic studies.