1 Early western medical work in Hong Kong was mostly carried out by overseas missionary organizations. Missionaries provided people with medical services and at the same time preached gospel to them. Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital was the first hospital in H.K., founded by London Missionary Society in 1887. The first Hospital Chief wrote down in his diary, "Our hospital always talk about Bible with out-patients and every ward has morning prayer session. We recite Bible and give sermons to patients. We often quote Bible sayings to encourage patients, whether they are in-patient or out-patient." The Hospital Constitution even stated, "The Hospital will forever act according to our mission, that is, our chaplains will preach for Christ while our hospital will cure patients."
2 In the 1950’s, northern European missionaries migrated from Shanxi province of China to Hong Kong. They founded the Haven of Hope Hospital at the Junk Bay of Kowloon and started medical services for patients suffering from Tuberculosis. Evangelistic work has never been stopped since its establishment and all of the hospital chiefs were Christians too. The mission of the Hospital is, "Serving the community with a Christian heart and providing holistic care to patients which will lead to a higher level of recovery in physical, psychological as well as spiritual aspect."
3 The Evangelical Free Church of America started medical missionary work in Hong Kong in 1960. They founded the Evangel Hospital at Argyle Street of Kowloon which has 50 beds in total. As there was increasing demand, the no. of beds later on extended to 100. The Evangel Hospital was regarded as an established general private hospital
4 The Hong Kong Baptist Hospital started operation in 1963 with the mission "to provide holistic healthcare services in the name of Jesus Christ and bring about physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of individuals."
5 The Union Christian Hospital of Hong Kong received the first patient in 1973. The mission of the hospital is, "to incorporate the spirit of Christ into the mission of the hospital and to practise it consistently through day to day operation" In order to meet with the mission above, the Hospital has Religion Department since its establishment, helping patients go through their difficulties through bible teaching and promises.
6 With the influx of mainland immigrants in the 1950's, the social structure of Hong Kong underwent drastic changes. There were increasing demands for various social services including education and medical services. The government built hospital one after one in the 1960’s and there were more and more Christians serving in hospitals. In addition to work, they also shared gospel with patients and were the pioneers as well as core members of "hospital evangelism".
7 In the 1970’s, Christian hospitals, local churches and theological seminaries started to touch on the topic of “holistic healing” and studied the possibility of sending Christian chaplains to public hospitals. Eventually before 1980, they successfully held the Conference of Holistic Healing which set the foundation for chaplaincy service in the future.
8 In 1984, the first chaplain entered into the public hospital, followed by the rapid development of chaplaincy service. There was close co-operation between NCF, CMDF, chaplains and local churches, which was the key factor of the rapid development and recognition of chaplaincy service.