(最后更新日期：2018年12月18日。鉴于本章程是法律文件，而且主要面向在英国工作的会员，英文原文照录如下，不做中文翻译。)

1. Interpretation

1.1 In these rules the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings:

    • “Articles” means the articles of association adopted by the Association from time to time;
    • “Association” means the Association of British Chinese Professors Limited;
    • “Associate Member” means any person who satisfies the requirements of rule 2.4 and who is granted membership of the Association by the Board;
    • “Board” means the board of directors of the Association, as appointed from time to time;
    • “Corresponding Member” means any person to whom the Board grants membership as a corresponding member under rule 2.5;
    • “Full Member” means any person who satisfies the requirements of rules 2.2 and 2.3 and who is granted membership of the Association by the Board;
    • “Honorary Member” means any person who under rule 2.6 is granted membership of the Association by the Board;
    • “Secretary” means any person appointed to perform the duties of the secretary of the Association; and
    • “two thirds majority” means more than 66% of those entitled to vote and voting on the matter the subject of the resolution.

1.2 Terms used and not otherwise defined in these rules shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Articles.

2. Membership Criteria

2.1  The Company has four classes of membership: (i) Full Members; (ii) Associate Members; (iii) Corresponding Members; and (iv) Honorary Members.

2.2 Save in the case of an Honorary Member, to be eligible to be a member of the Association, a person must be of Chinese heritage.

2.3 In addition to satisfying the requirement in Rule 2.2 above, to be eligible to be a Full Member, a person must have achieved the academic rank of ‘Professor’ (or equivalent), and carry out the majority of his or her working activities within the United Kingdom.

2.4 In addition to satisfying the requirements in rule 2.2 above, to be eligible to be an Associate Member, a person must hold an academic post or role (but need not have achieved the rank of ‘Professor’ or equivalent), and carry out the majority of his or her working activities within the United Kingdom.

2.5 Full Members and Associate Members who no longer carry out the majority of their working activities in the United Kingdom may request to the Board to become a Corresponding Member.  Any decision by the Board to grant a person membership as a Corresponding Member shall be entirely at the Board’s discretion.

2.6 In addition to the above, the Board may, in its absolute discretion, grant membership to a person who is highly respected for his or her academic achievements, but who does not satisfy the criteria set out in rules 2.2, 2.3 or 2.4.  Any such member shall be known as an Honorary Member.

2.7 People who are not working at a UK university and do not hold a standard academic title (i.e., lecturer / assistant professor, senior lecturer/reader/associate professor, professor, etc.) should supply a full CV to the Board for their (full or associate) membership. A normally sufficient qualification for a full membership is the title of  ‘Professor’ or other equivalents such as ‘Visiting Professor’ or ‘Honorary Professor’ conferred (and confirmed in a formal document) by a UK University recognised by the UKRI.

2.8 The Board may accept or refuse any application from any person to become a member of the Association in its absolute discretion and without providing a reason for such acceptance or refusal.

3. Rights and Obligations of Members

3.1 All Full Members, Associate Members, Corresponding Members and Honorary Members shall have the following rights:

3.1.1 to voluntarily terminate the membership of the Association;

3.1.2 to participate in the Association’s activities; and

3.1.3 the right to volunteer suggestions and making enquiries about the operation of the Association.

3.2 In addition to rule 3.1 above, Full Members shall be entitled to be appointed as a director of the Association in accordance with the nomination and appointment procedures set out in the Articles.

3.3 All Full Members, Associate Members, Corresponding Members and Honorary Members shall agree to comply with the following obligations:

3.3.1 to comply with the Articles, by-laws and rules of the Association;

3.3.2 to pay the membership fee on time;

3.3.3 to participate in the Association’s activities regularly; and

3.3.4 to notify the Association of any change of contact details.

4. Cessation of Membership

4.1 A member may terminate his/her membership of the Association by giving one months’ notice to the Association in writing.

4.2 If a member:

4.2.1 is guilty of conduct which has or is likely to have a serious adverse effect on the Association or bring the Association or any or all of the Members and directors into disrepute;

4.2.2 has acted or has threatened to act in a manner which is contrary to the interests of the Association as a whole; or

4.2.3 has failed to observe the terms of these rules and the Articles,

the Board may either (a) terminate the membership of such member without his or her consent by giving the member written notice if, by a two thirds majority vote of the Board; or (b) invite a member voluntarily to resign his or her membership.

4.3 There shall be no right to appeal from a decision of the Board to terminate the membership of a member.

4.4 Following such termination, the member shall be removed from the Register of Members by the Secretary.

4.5 A member whose membership is terminated under rule 4.2 shall remain liable to pay to the Company any membership fee or other sum owed by him as at the date of such termination.

4.6 Membership is not transferable without the prior written permission of the Board.

5. Membership Fees

5.1 The Board will set and review the membership fees for each category of member of the Association on an annual basis.

5.2 Honorary Members shall be exempted from the membership fee.

5.3 Unless otherwise determined by the Board, each member (other than an Honorary Member) shall pay the applicable membership fee to the Association annually within two months of the Association invoicing that member for the same.

5.4 At the Board’s discretion, a maximum delay of two months may be allowed for late payment of membership fees.