Many public hospitals in Hong Kong are named after members of the British royal family or colonial figures. These names are frequently mentioned, yet a deeper inquiry reveals whom they truly commemorate: a specific individual or merely a title? Behind these names lies a history of systems and power.
Take, for instance, the Queen Mary Hospital. Numerous figures named Mary appear throughout British history. The most famous is Mary I of England, known as “Bloody Mary” for her persecution of Protestants. Another notable figure is Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, whose tragic life remains a classic chapter in European royal history. However, the Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong does not commemorate either of these women.
Opened in 1937, the hospital honors Queen Mary, the wife of King George V. She was the mother of King George VI and the grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II. During the height of the Empire, naming large medical facilities after the spouse of the reigning monarch was a common practice in the colonies. The name serves as both a mark of respect and a symbol of authority.
Next, consider the Margaret Hospital. This Margaret is not Margaret Thatcher or any other notable figure with the same name. The hospital commemorates Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth II. Opened in 1975, the use of a princess’s name continues the royal tradition rather than being a random choice of a namesake.
As for the Prince of Wales Hospital, the distinction is even more nuanced. Does it commemorate a specific heir apparent or the title itself? The title “Prince of Wales” is a traditional designation for the British heir, not fixed to any one individual. When the hospital opened in 1984, the Prince of Wales was the future King Charles III. Thus, historically, it corresponds to Charles, but institutionally, it commemorates the title of heir apparent. Today, with a different Prince of Wales, the hospital’s name remains unchanged, indicating that it functions more as a symbol than a personal tribute.
Beyond the royals, several other names warrant explanation.
Nethersole Hospital derives its name from British physician Alice Nethersole, who came to Hong Kong in the late 19th century to promote Western medicine and nursing education, particularly focusing on maternal and child health. Her surname, Nethersole, was transliterated as “那打素.” The early development of medical care in Hong Kong was closely tied to the church.
The Ruttonjee Hospital commemorates businessman and philanthropist Sir Paul Ruttonjee, who long supported sanatoriums for tuberculosis and public medical facilities. Today’s Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai traces its origins back to those early sanatoriums.
The Lady D’Aguilar Clinic honors Sir David D’Aguilar, who served as Governor of Hong Kong from 1964 to 1971, during which he faced the 1967 riots and the expansion of public housing. Naming a hospital after a sitting governor reflected the political realities of the time. Although the hospital has since undergone reorganization, the name remains in historical records.
Naming is never accidental. Royal symbols represent the authority of the sovereign state, while missionaries and philanthropists signify sources of funding and expertise, and the names of governors reflect administrative leadership. Nearly 30 years have passed since the 1997 handover of sovereignty, and the city has undergone rapid transformation, yet most of these names remain in use. They are gradually distancing themselves from their original political contexts, evolving into geographical labels.
Perhaps one day, people will no longer inquire about their origins. Yet in these times of frequent change, one can only hope that these names endure—not for nostalgia’s sake, but as a reminder to the city that systems have roots and history has sources.
