Health Bureau considers merging Hong Kong Island Hospital Services

Under one cluster, hospitals treating acute and complex illnesses would be retained.

The Health Bureau announced today that it is considering consolidating hospital services on Hong Kong Island into a single administrative cluster.

The review will consider population distribution, with projections indicating a slight decline in Hong Kong Island's population by 2041, alongside a rise in residents aged 65 and older, despite overall growth in Hong Kong's population.

The bureau said that it expects that under a consolidated cluster, hospitals treating acute and complex illnesses would be retained, assuring the public that the merger would not require patients to travel to other districts for common illnesses or visits.

It added that the merger could cut administrative costs and improve service coordination for better cost-effectiveness.

The proposal is part of ongoing work with the Hospital Authority under the Second Hospital Development Plan, which prioritises hospital development projects across the city.