Dr Henry Phillips’ graduation certificate from the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese, 1906

摘要

Unknown to many, of the 128 students who had enrolled at the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese there were at least 19 who came from a foreign country (ie, other than Hong Kong and China) to study medicine in Hong Kong. 1 Dr Henry Phillips (1867-1918), whose certificate is featured in this article, was one of these 19 students. He was born in Jaffna, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and finished his secondary schooling there. He entered the College in 1903 and was allowed to follow a shortened curriculum of only 3 years, with eligibility for the diploma of the College provided he passed all his professional examinations. 2 This was because he had worked as a medical dresser in a hospital in the Federated Malay States for 12 years prior to coming to Hong Kong, as was clearly written on his graduation certificate, dated 1906 ( Fig 1 ). Among the overseas students, 13 came from Asian countries that were, at that time, part of the British Empire, including Singapore, Malacca and Penang, forming parts of the Straits Settlements, Burma, Ceylon, and India. Only one student had come from the Philippines, which was not part of the empire, and four had come from the United States, all four of whom were of Chinese descent. It is not surprising to note that the students all came from countries that were English speaking, since the course at the College was taught in English. Figure 1. Original Certificate of Dr Henry Phillips on graduation from the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese, 1906. Donated by his grandson, Dr Mano Arumanayagam to the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences Society in 2000.