Since its establishment in 1975, the Museum has staged more than 100 special exhibitions which cover a wide range of topics and represent the research of our curatorial staff. The exhibitions include: "Fifty Years of Hong Kong Archaeology", "History Around Us: Preserving Our Historic Buildings", "Hong Kong & Macau Currencies", "Local Traditional Chinese Wedding", "Made in Hong Kong: A History of Export Design in Hong", "150 Years of Postal Service in Hong Kong" and "Education in Hong Kong: Past and Present", etc. These exhibitions help to shed light on different facets of Hong Kong's history.

Special exhibitions held after 1990:

1990 The Fragrant Harbour: Past and Present American Toys from the Lawerence Scripps Wilkinson Collection Traditional Chinese Children's Costume Children of the Gods: Dress and Symbolism in China Historical Materials for Hong Kong Studies

1991 The Ceramic Route: Archaeological Discoveries From Penny's Bay Towards a Sustainable World 150 Years of Postal Service in Hong Kong History of Hong Kong: From Neolithic Settlement to Modern City

1992 Gems of Liangzhu Culture Hong Kong Costume: A Century of Decorum and Costume

1993 Education in Hong Kong: Past and Present Archaeological Discoveries of Ancient Yue Tribe in South China

1994 An Economic Miracle: The Success Story of Hong Kong Evolution and Exhibition: History of Life Evidenced by Chinese Fossils

1995 Of Hearts and Hands: Hong Kong's Traditional Trades and Crafts Life Under the Japanese Occupation, 1941-1945

1996 The Maritime Silk Route: 2000 Years of Trade on the South China Sea

1997 The Fragrant Harbour: An Overview of Its Maritime Trade and Port Development History through Maps: An Exhibition of Old Maps of China

1998 Heavenly Creations: Gems of Ancient Chinese Inventions Lin Zexu and the Opium War

1999 Defending the Seaboard: A preview of the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence City of Victoria: Historical Photographs of Hong Kong Rise of Modern China: A Century of Self-Determination Johann Strauss: Thunder & Lightning The Urban Council: Growing with Hong Kong Exhibition (displayed at the Hong Kong City Hall)

2000 Heritage of the Teaching Professions: The Changing Roles of Hong Kong Teachers Encounter with Hong Kong's Past: History through the Museum's Collection

2001 City of Victoria : Historical Photographs of Hong Kong Showcasing Hong Kong's Past: Introductory Display on "The Hong Kong Story" and Introduction to the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence The Great Wall: Gems of Cultural Relics of the Nomadic Tribes

2002 Growing with Time: The Hong Kong City Hall Retrospective Exhibition (displayed at the Hong Kong City Hall) The Battle for Hong Kong: Hong Kong under the Camera of the Japanese Army" Photo Exhibition Bits of Old Hong Kong: Museum Acquisitions in the Last Five Years Achievements in the Past and Plans for the Future (displayed at the China Millennium Monument, Beijing) War and Peace: Treasures of the Qin and Han Dynasties

2003 Napoleon Bonaparte: Emperor and Man A Tribute to Heritage Discovering Hong Kong's Culture and Tradition (displayed at the Hong Kong Central Library) National Flag, Emblem and Anthem of the People's Republic of China (displayed at the Hong Kong City Hall) 75 Years of Broadcasting in Hong Kong We Shall Overcome: Plagues in Hong Kong Sun Yat-sen: from Cuiheng to Hong Kong Boundless Learning: Foreign-educated Students of Modern China

2004 Treasures of the Chengde Summer Palace Dr Sun Yat-sen and Modern China Bits of Old Hong Kong (displayed at the China National Museum, Beijing) History Re-stored: Ancient Greek Coins from the Zhuyuetang Collection Hunting and Rituals: Treasures from the Ancient Dian Kingdom of Yunnan

2005 Highlights of the "Collection Campaign Related to Dr Sun Yat-sen and the 1911 Revolution" Development of Land Transport in Hong Kong (displayed at MTR Central Station) Exhibition for Entries of the "6th Inter-School Stamp Exhibits Competition" Paris Reflections: Photographs from the Centre Pompidou Impressions of the East: The Art of George Chinnery History of Ta Teh Institute Exhibition East Meets West: Cultural Relics from the Pearl River Delta Region

2006 Sailing West: Admiral Zheng He's Voyages Football Exhibition Exhibition on "Documentary of Child Development - Footprints of Children from the 1930s to 2006" Sketching Hong Kong: Exhibition on Kong Kai Ming Collection From Bones to Bytes : Chinese Script Decoded Exhibition Dr. Sun Yat-sen in Paper-cut Silhouette Exhibition Hong Kong Theatre － Romance with China

2007 Hong Kong Theatre － Romance with China (displayed at the Hong Kong City Hall) Ancient Chinese Civilization - Treasures of the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties from Henan Province Fifty Years of Cultural and Educational Development in Hong Kong Major Archaeological Discoveries of China in Recent Years Queen's College•Hong Kong•China : History and Memories of 145 Years

2008 The Development of Banks in Shanghai and Hong Kong (28 November 2007 – 26 May 2008)