A handling device to hold a bearing liner which is to be introduced into the socket of an acetabular cup has a support provided with an alignment element on the acetabular cup and having an opening which has a deformable rim adapted to receive the outer circumference of the bearing liner to be inserted. The bearing liner which may be, for example, conically tapered, is inserted into the opening in the support until the rim on the handling device is engaged. The held bearing liner can now be accurately located in a tapered socket of the acetabular cup utilizing the alignment device. Because the lower surface of the support rests against the upper rim of the acetabular cup, the complementary tapered bearing surfaces are not fully engaged. Engagement is achieved by pushing the bearing liner downwards through the deformable rim of the opening in the support so that the liner is correctly inserted. The handling device is now free of the bearing liner and can be removed.