St. John Hospital was founded as a tuberculosis sanatorium in November 1934 by the Hong Kong St. John Ambulance Association as the St. John Ambulance Association Haw Par Hospital, named after its donors: tycoon brothers Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par.

The foundation stone of the Victorian-style hospital was laid by the two businessmen in 1932.

[1][2] Before the opening of the St. John Hospital, residents of Cheung Chau sought medical care from The Cheung Chau Fong Bin Hospital, which offered traditional Chinese medicine.

The hospital has been listed as a Grade III historic building since 22 January 2010.

[4] As at March 2013, the hospital has 87 beds and 113 full-time equivalent staff.