"Broken Wings and Turn-Around: Tung Wah Hospital's Plague Trials and Renascence" Thematic Talk
"Broken Wings and Turn-Around: Tung Wah Hospital's Plague Trials and Renascence" Thematic Talk
In 1894, the bubonic plague broke out in Hong Kong. Tung Wah Hospital's insistence on treating patients with traditional Chinese medicine aroused the colonial authorities' suspicion, placing itself at a critical juncture for survival.
While the investigation committee generally awarded Tung Wah Hospital a positive assessment, it still made some recommendations, including the introduction of Western medicine and the appointment of medical experts to supervise, inspect, and submit quarterly reports to the government to assess whether the hospital should be allowed to continue its operation. Facing strict supervision, Tung Wah Hospital actively cooperated. By the end of 1902, all reports gave positive assessments, as a result of which, the Hong Kong authorities became more trusting of Tung Wah Hospital.
This talk will refer to the assessment reports from 1897 to 1903, as examples to analyse how Tung Wah Hospital, amid hardship, upheld its original mission of serving the Chinese community and promoted the integration of Chinese and Western medicine, becoming an important chapter in Hong Kong's public health history.
The thematic talk is sponsored by Tung Wah Museum Mr & Mrs Ho Cham Lau Po Lin Fund
- Venue:
- TWGHs TungPo Multi-Purpose Hall (Black Box Theatre), No. 2, Tsat Po Street, San Po Kong, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon
- Date/Time:
- Saturday, September 19, 2026 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Speaker:
- Dr. Joyce SO (Historian in Residence at the Jao Tsung-I Academy)
- Language:
- Cantonese
- Quota:
- 100
- Remarks:
1. The talk will be conducted in Cantonese. Free admission and limited seats available. For seat reservation, please register on this webpage or contact us (Tel: 2770 0867 ) during working hours ( 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays).
2. Please arrive 10 minutes prior for registration. No designated seating, seats on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. House Rules: No eating and drinking allowed except for bottled water. Long umbrella and wet umbrella are prohibited.
4. The talk will be cancelled or postponed if Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above, Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or "extreme conditions" Note is issued and remains in force 2 hours before the starting time.
5. Photos and videos will be taken during the event, which may be used later for non-profit purposes through websites, publications, etc. The Office considers the participants' acceptance of this arrangement.
6. Programmes are subject to change and cancellation without prior notice.
7. The Office urges all staff and activity providers to pay attention, when providing services, to and abide by the "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Security Law of the People's Republic of China" and other national laws related to Hong Kong's security, including but not limited to the "National Flag and Regional Emblem Ordinance", "Regional Flag and Regional Emblem Ordinance" and "National Anthem Ordinance", and ensure that the behavior or activities within the service centers under the Office will not constitute or may lead to the eradication of national security under the National Security Law or other Hong Kong laws, that are not conducive to national security.