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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The topping-out ceremony of the Main Clinical Block and Trauma Centre of the Prince of Wales Hospital was held today (November 11). Officiating guests at the ceremony included Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow; Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Ms Sandra Lee; Hospital Authority Chairman, Mr Anthony Wu; Chairman of the Hospital Governing Committee of the Prince of Wales Hospital, Mr Edward Ho; Chairman of the Sha Tin District Council, Mr Wai Kwok-Hung; Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Fok Tai-Fai; Hospital Authority Chief Executive, Mr Shane Solomon; and Hospital Chief Executive of the Prince of Wales Hospital, Dr Fung Hong.
In his address, Dr Chow said that to ensure that there was enough space and facilities to meet the community's needs and the teaching need of health care professionals in the long term, the Government and the Hospital Authority commissioned the Main Clinical Block and Trauma Centre for the hospital and work started in 2007. The extension project was funded by the Government and the facility was expected to complete in the middle of 2010.
"The new extension block will provide 800 in-patient beds for various speciality services. Major services such as accident and emergency, intensive care and the infectious diseases unit will move to the new building. Patients will enjoy a better environment. The re-organised and improved facilities will also greatly enhance service efficiency and quality," Dr Chow said.
Mr Wu said in his speech that the Prince of Wales Hospital is the largest acute hospital in the Hospital Authority's New Territories East Cluster and the teaching hospital for the Chinese University's Faculty of Medicine. The new extension project was timely as it could help meet escalating service demands from the public and teaching needs. The facility's "people-centred" environment will add comfort and activity space for patients.
Mr Ho thanked the Food and Health Bureau, the Hospital Authority Head Office, the Architectural Services Department and all those involved in the project for their full support and dedication, which has helped bring about its successful completion.
Ends/Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:33
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