OUR
MILESTONES
1887
Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese established
The College is founded by Patrick Manson, Ho Kai and James Cantlie, with Manson acting as its dean.
Alice Memorial Hospital opens
1892
First class of graduates
Two students from the initial intake, Dr Kong Ying-wa and Dr Sun Yat-sen, graduate from the College.
1907
The College is renamed the Hong Kong College of Medicine
1909
Licentiates recognised to sign death certificates
1912
The University of Hong Kong formally opens
The Hong Kong College of Medicine was incorporated into the University, becoming its first faculty.
1913
UK's General Medical Council grants full recognition to graduates
After years of seeking full recognition for its graduates, the General Medical Council extends full recognition to the HKU medical degree.
Ng Li Hing School of Anatomy opens
1914
First student to graduate with Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from HKU
George Harold Thomas becomes the first to be awarded the MBBS degree.
1917
Schools of Anatomy and Physiology move into the Anatomy and Physiology Building on Pokfulam Road
The two Schools became departments within the Faculty in 1912.
1919
School of Tropical Medicine and Pathology opens
Dr Wang Ching-yik appointed Chair of Pathology
Dr Wang becomes the first graduate of the College of Medicine to become a professor at HKU.
1923
Rockefeller-funded chair in obstetrics and gynaecology established
1927
First woman graduate
Eva Hotung becomes the first woman to graduate with a medical degree from HKU.
1935
School of Surgery opens
1937
Queen Mary Hospital opens
Clinical teaching is transferred to the new hospital.
1941
HKU suspends activities during WWII
The Japanese invasion of Hong Kong in December 1941 brings a halt to teaching at the University.
1946
Medical students complete degrees in Free China during the War
More than 30 students completed their studies in Free China with their degrees recognised by HKU's Medical Degrees Emergency Committee.
1948
First class of medical students admitted following the end of WWII
1952
First post-war group of students graduate
The first post-war group of 22 complete their studies.
First graduate of the Faculty appointed professor of medicine
David Todd becomes the first graduate to be appointed professor of medicine.
1953
Pre-registration year of internship becomes mandatory
The Medical Council of Hong Kong requires all medical students to complete a pre-registration year of internship at a hospital after graduation.
1955
Hong Kong Operation performed
Designed to treat tuberculosis of the spine, the revolutionary operation pioneered by Professor Arthur Ralph Hodgson and Professor Francis Edgar Stock helps bring international recognition to the Faculty.
1959
New Pathology Building opens at Queen Mary Hospital
First transoral approach performed for the surgical treatment of upper cervical spine dislocations and tuberculosis in the world
1964
Hong Kong's first open-heart surgery
The surgery was conducted by Ong Guan-bee, a general surgeon who also collaborated on the Hong Kong Operation.
First Pharyngo-laryngo-oesophagectomy in the world
1965
Li Shu Fan Building opens
The new building meant the whole Faculty was housed in Pokfulam.
1968
Fifty-two cases of open-heart surgery are successfully conducted between 1968 and 1969
1969
First kidney transplant in Hong Kong takes place
1972
Patrick Manson Building opens
The second phase of the unnamed building on Sassoon Road is completed and named the Patrick Manson Building at its formal opening on 8 March 1973.
1977
Hong Kong's first microsurgical thumb replant
1978
A one-year full-time course leading to Master of Medical Science is introduced
1982
Rosie Young Tse-tse appointed Dean
Professor Young was the first HKU graduate to take on leadership of the Faculty.
1983
First antenatal screening for hereditary blood disease established in Hong Kong
1986
The Medical Library is renamed The Lee Hysan Medical Library
1987
Centenary of the Medical Faculty
1989
First maxillary swing operation for recurrent nasopharyngectomy in the world
1991
First liver transplant performed in Hong Kong
1992
First heart transplant in Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s first case of volunteer unrelated bone marrow transplant
1994
First allogeneic cord blood transplant in Hong Kong
First emergency adult-to-adult left lobe living donor liver transplant in the world
1995
First lung transplant in Hong Kong takes place
First baby in Hong Kong conceived by intracytoplasmic sperm injection is delivered at Queen Mary Hospital
The Department of Nursing Studies is established and the Bachelor of Nursing Programme launched
1996
University of Hong Kong Clinical Trials Centre established
The Centre is created to promote research activities at the University.
World's first transplant using the right lobe of the liver
In a global first, the right lobe from a living donor was transplanted into his sibling.
First in Asia to show improved respiratory health in children in response to pollutant reduction after the implementation of an anti-air pollution law
1997
Problem-based learning introduced
A new medical curriculum introduced problem-based learning, setting a new path for the Faculty's teaching style.
1998
School of Chinese Medicine is established and Bachelor of Chinese Medicine programme launched
1999
HKU Medical Alumni Association is formed
Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics programme launched
2001
First radiofrequency ablation for cancers in Hong Kong
2002
William MW Mong Block opens on Sassoon Road
2003
HKU scientists identify virus behind Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
The discovery established that the virus was a coronavirus that was not previoulsy known in humans or animals. The scientists also discovered the source of the virus.
Genome Research Centre established
2004
First to characterise the epidemiology of SARS coronavirus
2005
State Key Laboratories of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Brain and Cognitive Sciences are established
These were the first State Key Laboratories located outside mainland China.
Faculty named Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
The new name came in honour of a $HK1bn donation from the Li Ka Shing Foundation.
2006
Department of Surgery wins the first-class award for the category of State Scientific and Technology Progress Award
Professor Malik Peiris elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society
Professor Peiris was recognised for his outstanding work on human viral infections that cause respiratory diseases including SARS and avian flu.
2008
Hedley Environmental Index launched
The index provides an hourly estimation of the impact of air pollution on health and the economy.
2009
Bachelor of Pharmacy programme launched
2010
State Key Laboratory of Liver Research established
First to develop a patented prescription drug to treat acute promyelocytic leukaemia
First combined heart and liver transplant in Hong Kong
2012
University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen hospital opens
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences programme launched
2013
State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology established
2014
HKU Clinical Academic Unit formally opens at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital
First subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator in Asia
First exome-chip analysis of lipid traits in Chinese
2015
The School of Public Health is designated a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control
School of Biomedical Sciences established
Departments of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology are merged to form the School of Biomedical Sciences.
Emergency Medicine Unit established
First to use topical imiquimod before intradermal influenza vaccination
2016
First live birth by assisted reproduction with preimplantation genetic screening using next generation sequencing for couples with chromosomal error in Hong Kong
2017
HKUMed joins the China Consortium of Elite Teaching Hospitals
The Consortium serves as a vehicle for higher-level exchanges and engagement.
The Jockey Club Centre for Clinical Innovation and Discovery and the Jockey Club Institute of Cancer Care open
The new facilities were supported by a $1.24bn donation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital opens
The hospital is an affiliate teaching hospital of HKUMed.
2018
First batch of MBBS students embark on their Enrichment Year
Four HKU teaching hospitals rank among 50 best in the region, including top scorer Queen Mary Hospital
Professor Gabriel Leung, Dean of Medicine, elected as a member of the US National Academy of Medicine
He was elected for "leadership in global health and medical education, and contributions to infectious disease epidemiology and control”.
2020
HKUMed receives funding to establish the Li Ka Shing Cryogenic Electron Microscope Facility
COVID-19 research
HKUMed scientists conducted pivotal early research on COVID-19 transmission as well as the first diagnostic protocols for detecting SARS-CoV-2.
2021
HKUMed ranks within top 20 medical schools in the world
Professor Malik Peiris and Professor Yuen Kwok-yung awarded Future Science Prize
The two experts received the award for their work on SARS-CoV-1 and the global SARS outbreak, which contributed to efforts to combat COVID-19.
Five InnoHK centres established
With these new centres, HKU is working with leading partner institutions from around the world to apply genomics, big data and advanced technologies to deepen our understanding of viruses and cancers and develop cutting-edge treatments.
Bachelor of Nursing Advanced Leadership Track programme launched
Faculty Office moves into the new Daniel & Mayce Yu Administration Wing
2022
Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics programme relaunched
School of Clinical Medicine established
The School groups together 14 clinical disciplines to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and synergism.
New academic building at 3 Sassoon Road opened
Critical Care Medicine Unit established
HKUMed ranks top 13 medical school in the world
