The permanent exhibition of the museum has been under renovation since late 2020. As of June 2023, we do not have an expected completion date of this revamp project.

The Hong Kong Museum of History is a must-go for history lovers and those interested in the complex history of 7.4 million people compressed in this tiny city. Established in 1975, the museum of 7,000 square meters includes eight galleries spanning over two floors.

The exhibition starts from 400 million years ago in the Devonian period that explains the geological and botanical history of Hong Kong, demonstrating artifacts of pottery, bronze and a reproduction of one of eight rock carvings discovered at a beach. The third part starts from the Qing dynasty (1644-1912), about how the Pearl River Delta was developed and how Han people migrated from Central China to the Southern Guangdong province, which includes Hong Kong. 

The fourth exhibit spotlights the grassroots folk culture of four ethnic groups in Hong Kong. Visitors are invited to explore a life-size replica of a junk boat, the home of the Tanka, known as 'those who live on water'. The recreated Cantonese Opera is another highlight, displaying the vibrant costumes and ornate jewelry still worn by performers today. The fifth exhibit reflects on a pivotal moment in Hong Kong’s history – the British colonization after the Opium War. It offers insights into the sea routes between Europe and Asia, and the trade activities that elevated Hong Kong to its global business status.

The sixth gallery features an engaging reconstruction of colonial Hong Kong, inviting visitors to stroll down a bygone street lined with traditional shops, such as a tailor’s shop, pawnshop, and herbal clinic. This section vividly illustrates the diverse services and products of the pre-war era. It also pays tribute to Dr. Sun Yat Sen, revered as the Father of modern China, who played a pivotal role in ending the Qing dynasty. The final gallery chronicles the grim history of the Japanese invasion, a period locally referred to as 'three years and eight months'. Through artifacts and photographs, visitors can grasp the harsh realities Hongkongers faced during the occupation. The exhibition concludes with the postwar development of the city, charting the changes in its economic and social landscape up to the handover from Britain to China.

Of course, the story is far from over. For example, the museum gloss over how the rise of China and its diplomatic relationship with the US resulted in the eventual handover of Hong Kong, how Margret Thatcher negotiated an outcome with Deng Siu Ping and the birth of the One Country Two Systems principle, how June 4th, 1989 has changed Hong Kong forever and many of us got second citizenship somewhere else in the world.