The chief executive of Kai Tak Hospital, Eric Cheung, said it would commence services in phases starting on Monday, with a family medicine centre and allied health services being the first to open.

The new facility of the Kowloon Central Cluster will gradually take over clinical services provided at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, according to the Hospital Authority.

Speaking at a media tour, Cheung said the services would be launched gradually to minimise any chances of things going wrong.

“At this stage, we will proceed gradually and in phases. Why? Because this is the largest hospital relocation project in Hong Kong’s history, so we must act with caution,” he said.

“The priority is that patient services must not be compromised. This is why we are adopting the gradual approach.”

Cheung said following the start of family medicine and allied health services, some specialist out-patient services would be transferred to the hospital in late October, followed by more services in November.

He noted that the new facility would become the SAR’s largest public hospital, with 2,400 hospital beds and 37 operating rooms, and is expected to serve a population of more than 1.8 million.

The hospital is also equipped with an automated blood sample transport system and a 2,000-square-metre pharmacy department – the largest in Hong Kong.


Edited by Edmond Fong