Clinical Block 1 at Queen Mary Hospital did not begin clinical services as planned, missing a target to provide additional capacity in the first quarter of 2026. The delay means the new block has yet to add the expected services at the hospital.
The delay is linked to problems with the building’s lifts, although reports have described the issue differently. i-CABLE News reported that the lifts had not passed acceptance checks, Ming Pao reported that a large number had broken down and required repairs, while Star Headline said they had not been operating effectively. The available information does not establish whether these descriptions refer to the same fault or separate issues.
Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said he was disappointed by the delay and hoped the repair work could be completed as soon as possible. Hospital Authority chief executive Li Ha-yin also expressed disappointment, saying the actual situation had fallen well short of expectations.
The Government said it understood that the Development Bureau was arranging for the Architectural Services Department and the contractor to follow up the matter. The Health Bureau said it was not appropriate to comment publicly on specific technical issues involved in the works.
The Hospital Authority said Queen Mary Hospital’s current services had not been affected, and that staff were working to increase service capacity. It has not formally taken over the new building and will only start clinical operations after handover and careful testing confirm that the building is safe and that hospital services will not be disrupted.
After the building is formally handed over, hospital staff will work to recover lost time, Li said. The Authority is also assessing how the delayed handover may affect Queen Mary Hospital’s future development.