Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese

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Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese
Location
Hong Kong island, Hong Kong
Information
Type Missionary
Established October 1, 1887[1]
Affiliation London Missionary Society

The Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese (Chinese: 香港華人西醫書院) was the first college in Hong Kong to fully adopt and accept Western medical science practices. It was established in 1887, and was considered a break through in opening up western medical research and development to the Far East.

Today the college renamed Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong.

Contents

History[edit]

The College was the predecessor of the Medical Faculty of the University of Hong Kong. The London Missionary Society founded the establishment. Important initiatives were led by notable members like Dr Patrick Manson, an experienced medical practitioner who made his fame in the realm of tropical medicine. Having served in the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs as a medical officer for 18 years, he took up private practice in Hong Kong from 1883 to 1889. Sir Kai Ho Kai was also a member of the Chinese elite in Colonial Hong Kong.[1] He played a major role in convincing the Chinese population that western medicine was acceptable and a new alternative in a culture that have largely been dominated by traditional Chinese medicine.

In 1907 the school was renamed to Hong Kong College of Medicine.[2] In 1908 it was authorized to sign death certificates.[3] The nucleus of the school would later create the foundation for the new and renamed Hong Kong University in 1910. The Chinese society at the time was not quite ready for western medicine at the time. As a result, many of the medical graduates were actually unemployed.[2]

Notable alumni[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Sweeting, Anthony. [1990] (1990). Education in Hong Kong, pre-1841 to 1941. HK University Press. ISBN 962-209-258-6
  2. ^ a b The University of Hong Kong. [2003] (2003). Growing with Hong Kong: The University and its Graduates, the first 90 years. ISBN 962-209-613-1
  3. ^ Starling, Arthur. Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences Society. Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences Society Staff. [2006] (2006). Hong Kong University. ISBN 962-209-805-3