Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences



The Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences (Chinese: 香港醫學博物館) was established in 1996, and is located in a renovated 3-storey Edwardian style building, at 2 Caine Lane at the Mid-levels, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It is also referred as Old Pathological Institute.

The aim of the museum is to promote the collection and preservation of materials of historical interest relating to the development of the medical industry in Hong Kong. On occasion, some exhibitions are held by the museum, in order to present basic and advance medical information and news. One of its major goals to help to raise the interests of the public about the medical history of Hong Kong and teach them more about health and diseases.

History


At the end of the 19th century, bacteriological studies in Hong Kong were underdeveloped. It was not until that the building of Bacteriological Institute was constructed at Caine Lane.

The building of the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences was established in 1906. It was previously called Bacteriological Institute. Later, it was called Pathological Institute after World War II.

Being the first laboratory of bacteriology in Hong Kong, it was constructed of red bricks and was comprised of three blocks. The main block is a two-storey building with a basement. The second one was used as a dormitory and the third for keeping animals. In 1972, the institute was relocated to Victoria Road and building was then used as a storeroom for Pathology Service for the Health Department.

In 1995, it was handed over to the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences Society and converted to a museum for the public. The museum is still located at the same place, 2 Caine Lane at Mid-levels.

Features
It is a three-tier building occupying 10,000 square feet (930 m²) and it consists of 11 exhibition galleries including 1 gallery for Tai Ping Shan View,1 game room, 1 library and 1 lecture(Gordon King Lecture Theatre) room.

The galleries includes:
 * Lui Hac Minh Gallery
 * Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases Association Gallery
 * Hong Kong College of Radiologists Gallery
 * Tung Wah Group of Hospitals' Gallery
 * Class of 63 Gallery
 * Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Gallery,
 * The Old Laboratory
 * "herbalist shop": a gallery show the Chinese Medinice.
 * Lower Gallery Exhibition Room
 * room demonstrating the History of Hong Kong Dentistry
 * the Autopsy Room.

A herbal garden can also be found. There, a collection of different types of herbs are shown and the studies of their medical properties are carried out.

Goal
The aim of the museum is to exhibit and educate the public about Hong Kong's medical history as well as to preserve historical medical materials relating to the local development of medicine. Occasionally, special activities are held by the museum to inform the public about medical information and news. Publications and leaflets are also distributed to the public occasionally so as to help arouse the interest of the public in the medical history of Hong Kong and increase their knowledge and understanding of health and diseases. This museum is special and meaningful since it is the first of its kind among all the medical museums in the world.

Visit
The museum closes on Mondays but is open to the public from 10:00a.m to 5:00p.m from Tuesday to Saturday. On Sundays and public holidays, it starts at 1:00p.m. and closes at 5:00p.m. The admission fee is HK$10.00 for adults and $5 for the disabled people, full-time students and the elderly aged 60 or above.