A Medical History of Hong Kong: The Development and Contributions of Outpatient Services

Please find errata for this title here.

This book focuses on a seldom discussed topic despite its immeasurable impact on the health of the citizens and public health in Hong Kong—the development of outpatient medical services and their contributions. In the early 20th century, Chinese elite organized and operated a number of Chinese Public Dispensaries in Hong Kong and Kowloon, initially to reduce the prevalence of “dump bodies” on the streets during epidemics of smallpox or plague, and to determine the cause of death of these bodies. Later other services including domiciliary deliveries by trained midwives were added. The government founded similar clinics in the New Territories. After WWII, the government took over all the Chinese Public Dispensaries and operated them as general outpatient clinics. Over the years, more general clinics and special clinics were developed. These clinics helped improve the health indices of the population to those of the Western countries by the 1970s.

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Modern-day medicine increasingly emphasises patient management on an outpatient basis. We are indebted to Professor Moira M. W. Chan-Yeung for her tireless efforts in researching the history of medical outpatient services in Hong Kong. Through this book, readers will gain insights into how outpatient medicine in the past has shaped the city’s modern day healthcare system, and have a glimpse into its future development.

—Professor Lau Chak-sing, Head of Department of Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

An exemplary piece of scholarship that interprets the past and illuminates our future paths. Seldom has history, so dear and near, been told with such prides and hopes, for maestros and ordinary folks.

—Professor Gilberto K. K. Leung, Clinical Professor and Associate Dean (Teaching & Learning), LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong