The Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences was established in 1996. It is in a renovated three-story Edwardian-style building, at 2 Caine Lane at the Mid-levels, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It is also referred to 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, exhibitions are held by the museum to present basic and advanced medical information and news. One of its major goals is to help raise public interest in the medical history of Hong Kong and teach them more about health and diseases.
History
The building that would later become Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences was built in 1906. It was designed as a Bacteriological Institute and renamed to Pathological Institute after World War II. The building was designed by Leigh & Orange. Being the first laboratory of bacteriology in Hong Kong, it was constructed of red bricks and consisted 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 the building was then used as a storeroom for Pathology Service for the Health Department. The building was declared a monument in 1990. In 1995, it was handed over to the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences Society and converted to a public museum.
Features
It is a three-tier building occupying 10,000 square feet and it consists of 11 exhibition galleries including a gallery for Tai Ping Shan View, a game room, a library and the Gordon KingLecture Theatre. The galleries include:
Lui Hac Minh Gallery
Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases Association Gallery
Hong Kong College of Radiologists
Goal
The aim of the museum is to exhibit and educate the public about Hong Kong's medical history and to preserve historical medical materials relating to the local development of medicine. Publications and leaflets are distributed to the public occasionally 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.
Transportation
The museum is in walking distance southwest from Sheung Wan Station of MTR. Visitors can take Citybus or NWFB bus services 12, 12M, 13, 23, 23B, 40, 40M or 103 and alight at the bus stop named "Seymour Road" on Caine Road.
