Professor WP Yau is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology at the University of Hong Kong and the former President of the Hong Kong College of Orthopaedic Surgeons (HKCOS). The HKCOS is the official organization responsible for training orthopaedic specialists and conducting professional examinations in orthopaedic surgery in Hong Kong. Between 2008 and 2021, Professor Yau served as the Chief of the Division of Sports and Arthroscopic Surgery at the University of Hong Kong. He was also a member of the Senate of the University of Hong Kong from 2019 to 2022.

In 1987, Professor Yau began his medical education at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), earning his medical degree in 1992. After completing his medical internship in 1993, he undertook general surgical training at the Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) in Hong Kong and obtained the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) in 1997. Subsequently, he enrolled in the orthopaedic training program at the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology at QMH. He completed his orthopaedic residency training in 2000 and passed the fellowship examination in the same year with flying colors. He earned the gold medal for the conjoint examination in orthopaedic surgery, jointly held by the HKCOS and the RCSEd. In 2001, Professor Yau was awarded the Fellow of the Hong Kong College of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine.

Professor Yau joined HKU in 2007 and was appointed as the Chief of the Division of Sports and Arthroscopic Surgery in the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology at QMH in 2008. In 2013, he was promoted to the position of Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology at HKU. He was also appointed as an Honorary Clinical Consultant of the Hospital Authority in August 2013.

Specializing in Sports Medicine and Adult Joint Reconstruction Surgery, Professor Yau's main research interest lies in clinical outcome studies in these two areas. His work has led to the publication of 77 peer-reviewed articles, 2 book chapters, and 63 conference papers. Professor Yau has delivered over 90 invited lectures and nearly 180 presentations. He has been invited to speak at a number of national and international orthopaedic conferences.

Considered one of the leaders in the orthopaedic society in Hong Kong, Professor Yau served as the President of the Sports Medicine Chapter of the Hong Kong Orthopaedic Association (HKOA) in 2012 and was the President of the Hong Kong College of Orthopaedic Surgeons from 2019 to 2020.

Professor Yau has received multiple awards, including the Author Yau Award from the HKOA in 1994 and 2004, the David Fang Trophy from the HKOA in 2004, the Harry Fang Gold Medal Award from the HKCOS in 2000, the Japan Orthopaedics and Traumatology Foundation Fellowship Award in 2008, the Best Sports Medicine Paper Award from the HKOA in 2010, 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2023, and the Orthopaedic Basic Science Award from the HKOA in 2014. He was chosen as the ambassador representing the Hong Kong Orthopaedic Association at the annual congresses of sister national orthopaedic associations, including the JOA Annual Congress in 1995 and 2005, the NZOA Scientific Meeting in 2003 and 2005, and the SOA Annual Congress in 2006 and 2008.

Professor Yau was honored as one of the "Top Reviewers" for Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research in 2015 and 2016. Since 2017, he has been serving as the Deputy Editor of the same journal. He is also set to become a member of the editorial board of the American Journal of Sports Medicine in 2023. In addition, he acts as a reviewer for several international journals, including the American Journal of Sports Medicine, Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Journal of Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery B.

Professor Yau is actively involved in providing orthopaedic education, both in Hong Kong and internationally. He served as the Training Director of the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology at HKU from 2008 to 2012, and was a member of the Education Committee of the HKCOS from 2008 to 2016. Additionally, he was the Convener of the Basic Orthopaedic Bioskill Workshop under the HKCOS for a 5-year term starting in 2009. Professor Yau was appointed as the Deputy Censor of HKCOS in 2013, advanced to the position of Chief Censor in 2015, and was named the President-Elect of HKCOS in 2017. He was ultimately elected as the President of HKCOS in 2019.

From 2011 to 2019, Professor Yau organized the SICOT Educational Day. SICOT is the largest orthopaedic association in the world, and the Educational Day is an annual international event focused on educating trainees and young fellows around the globe. Professor Yau was appointed as the Chairman of the SICOT Educational Day Committee from 2018 to 2019, the Chairman of the SICOT Sports Traumatology and Arthroscopy Committee from 2019 to 2021, and the SICOT National Delegate of Hong Kong from 2020 to 2021. In 2021, he also served as the Vice Chairman of the SICOT Congress Program Scientific Committee.