This paper is a historical review of mental health services in Hong Kong. The development of mental health services in Hong Kong can be roughly divided into several stages: the pre-asylum period (1841-1924), the asylum period (1925-1948), the organization period (1948-1965), the initial rehabilitation period (1966-1973), the centralized rehabilitation period (1974-1981) and the civic control vs community care period (1982-1995). From the development of mental health services in Hong Kong, it is clearly demonstrated that the aims and the trends of mental health services had gradually progressed from a detention model, to a treatment model and finally to a rehabilitation model. Nevertheless, under a shortage of governmental resources and the severe opposition of public stigmatization, community based rehabilitation existed in the form of institution-like service units. In comparison with the international de-institutionalization and community care movement, mental health services in Hong Kong are not affected by any de-institutionalization movement. Instead, the unique political and social context nurtured a parallel development of both institutional care and community care for mental patients.