| Special exhibitions held after 1990: |
| 2013 |
| Who Am I? Bridging the Pacific - From Guangdong to Barkerville and Back Exhibition (27 February - 15 April 2013) |
| The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia (30 January - 13 May 2013) |
| When Hillsides Collapse - A Century of Landlides in Hong Kong - Be Prepared for Danger in Times of Peace (8 May - 27 May 2013) |
| 2012 |
| Chaozhou Food Culture in Hong Kong (21 March - 1 May 2012) |
| Hong Kong Currency (14 March - 4 June 2012) |
| Transformation of the Qipao (27 April – 10 June 2012) |
| The Majesty of All Under Heaven : The Eternal Realm of China's First Emperor (25 July–26 November 2012) |
| The Making of Modern Hong Kong and China: Contributions of Queen's College Old Boys (25 November–9 December 2012) |
| History in Miniature: The 150th Anniversary of Hong Kong's First Postage Stamps (19 December 2012 - 16 January 2013) |
| 2011 |
| Chen Kung-che: Hong Kong's Archaeologist and Polymath (19 January - 28 March 2011) |
| Centenary of China' s 1911 Revolution (2 March – 16 May 2011) |
| A Partnership with the People: KAAA and Post-war Agricultural Hong Kong (13 April - 20 June 2011) |
| The Flavours of Everyday Life in China - Memories from the Past Half Century (6 July - 26 September 2011) |
| Dockyards of Hong Kong – Pictorial Exhibition on Hong Kong's Shipbuilding and Repair Industry (13 July - 21 November 2011) |
| Knowledge‧Power：The Imperial Examination System of the Qing Dynasty (9 November 2011 – 6 February 2012) |
| 2010 |
| In Memory of "The King of Radio Broadcasting" Exhibition of Mr. Chung Wai-ming's Collections (4 February – 15 March 2010) |
| Legends of Luxury and Elegance: Lifestyles of the Han Nobility (10 February - 3 May 2010) |
| Memories We Share: Hong Kong in the 1960s and 1970s (31 March to 30 June 2010) |
| The Evergreen Classic – Transformation of the Qipao (23 June – 13 September 2010) |
| Under The Trees: People and Stories from Village Schools (21 July - 27 September 2010) |
| Discovering Hong Kong's Cultural Traditions (21 January - 31 December 2010) |
| Witness of Time: Photos of Central and Western District in the 1970s (6 October 2010 - 10 January 2011) |
| Hong Kong, Benevolent City: Tung Wah and the Growth of Chinese Communities (27 October 2010 - 17 January 2011) |
| 2009 |
| An exhibition to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement (23 March – 12 April 2009) |
| City of Victoria – A Selection of the Hong Kong Museum of History's Historical Photographs (25 March – 29 June 2009) |
| Modern Metropolis: Material Culture of Shanghai and Hong Kong (29 April - 17 August 2009) |
| Traditional Festivals in Hong Kong (1 July - 28 September 2009) |
| A Century of China (23 September 2009- 4 January 2010) |
| Pioneer Archaeologist in South China: Father Maglioni's Collection of Archaeological Finds (4 November 2009 – 1 February 2010) |
| 2008 |
| SUPERTRADER Hong Kong: 40 Years of Trade (3 January – 25 February 2008) |
| From New Year Prints to Propaganda Posters: Selections from the China Archives of Publications (12 March - 16 June 2008) |
| Heavenly Horse – The Horse in Chinese Art and Culture (16 July - 13 October 2008) |
| Hong Kong Observatory - Weathering the Storms for 125 Years (23 July – 22 September 2008) |
| Women of Hong Kong – A Century of Contribution and Development (1 October - 22 October 2008) |
| 80 Years of Broadcasting in Hong Kong (29 October - 24 November 2008) |
| The French Revolutions (17 December 2008 – 16 March 2009) |
| 2007 |
| Play : Hong Kong Theatre － Romance with China (11–23 January 2007) |
| Ancient Chinese Civilization - Treasures of the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties from Henan Province (14 February - 14 May 2007) |
| Fifty Years of Cultural and Educational Development in Hong Kong (7 March - 30 July 2007) |
| Major Archaeological Discoveries of China in Recent Years (25 July - 24 September 2007) |
| Queen's College‧Hong Kong‧China : History and Memories of 145 Years (19 November - 3 December 2007) |
| The Development of Banks in Shanghai and Hong Kong (28 November 2007 - 24 March 2008) |
| 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 (25 October 2006 – 8 January 2007) |
| Dr. Sun Yat-sen in Paper-cut Silhouette Exhibition (18 October 2006 – 15 January 2007) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| 1998 |
| Heavenly Creations: Gems of Ancient Chinese Inventions |
| Lin Zexu and the Opium War |
| 1997 |
| The Fragrant Harbour: An Overview of Its Maritime Trade and Port Development |
| History through Maps: An Exhibition of Old Maps of China |
| 1996 |
| The Maritime Silk Route: 2000 Years of Trade on the South China Sea |
| 1995 |
| Of Hearts and Hands: Hong Kong's Traditional Trades and Crafts |
| Life Under the Japanese Occupation, 1941-1945 |
| 1994 |
| An Economic Miracle: The Success Story of Hong Kong |
| Evolution and Exhibition: History of Life Evidenced by Chinese Fossils |
| 1993 |
| Education in Hong Kong: Past and Present |
| Archaeological Discoveries of Ancient Yue Tribe in South China |
| 1992 |
| Gems of Liangzhu Culture |
| Hong Kong Costume: A Century of Decorum and Costume |
| 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 |
| 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 |
