First phase of emergency hospital handed over to Hong Kong

The first phase of the Central Government-Aided Emergency Hospital in Lok Ma Chau Loop was officially handed over to Hong Kong on Thursday (April 7), offering 500 negative pressure beds, including 32 intensive care unit beds, and two operating theaters.

Radiology, laboratory, central supply and blood transfusion facilities are provided at the hospital, which also includes auxiliary facilities such as a pharmacy, sewage treatment stations and oxygen stations.

The hospital has a total floor space of about 283,100 square meters. Once the whole project is completed, the hospital will boast negative-pressure wards with a total of 1,000 beds. Apart from hospital beds, it will also provide about 10,000 beds for community isolation and treatment.

The HKSAR government submitted requests to the Chinese mainland to help construct the emergency hospital in Lok Ma Chau Loop in late February amid the surge in COVID cases. The first-phase construction of the hospital began on March 6, and was completed and passed evaluation on April 5.

The makeshift hospital in Lok Ma Chau Loop is one of the nine isolation facilities that will be built in Hong Kong with the central government's assistance.