DH's New Territories (Shatin) Forensic Medicine Centre officially opens (with photo/video)
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The DH held an opening ceremony for the forensic medicine centre today, which was officiated by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Deputy Director-General of the Coordination Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Chen Zetao; the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam.
The centre is a specialised facility of the DH's Forensic Pathology Services (FPS). The building was named as "Forensic Medicine Centre", demonstrating that it does not only provide the functions of a public mortuary, but also a facility integrating the multi-functions of modernised forensic pathology. The seven-storey NT(ST)FMC provides equipment and facilities meeting infection control, occupational safety and health requirements. Various forensic pathology facilities are in place, including cold rooms, deep freezer, autopsy suites and laboratories, as well as the computed tomography scan room which is set up in public mortuaries for the first time, providing an additional modality for forensic pathologists to examine the bodies and conduct in-depth pathological research.
The NT(ST)FMC also provides more suitable room and spacious venues for the families of the deceased, with three indoor farewell rooms for families to hold simple memorial rites in a quiet and private environment. Meanwhile, the building also serves as a training venue for law enforcement officers in criminal and crime scene investigations.
Apart from its functionality, the building also adopted a modernised and aesthetic design for its external appearance, with a view to changing the public's impression of public mortuaries. To better integrate with the surroundings and reduce possible visual impacts, the construction of the building also included beautifying and greening of the neighbouring environment.
At present, three public mortuaries operated by the DH, namely FSPM, Kwai Chung Public Mortuary and Victoria Public Mortuary (VPM), are specialised forensic pathology facilities for conducting medico-legal examination of deaths that are reportable to the Coroner in accordance with the Coroners Ordinance. The core functions of public mortuaries are receiving deceased bodies round the clock, conducting necessary Coroner's procedures including interviews with families, external examination of bodies, formal identification of bodies, performance of medico-legal autopsies and associated investigations, and releasing deceased bodies to families afterwards.
With the commencement of the NT(ST)FMC, the current FSPM will cease operating from January 7. The Government is also planning to reprovision VPM at Kennedy Town to meet the increasing demand.
For further information about the FPS of the DH, please visit www.fps.gov.hk/en/index.html.
Ends/Thursday, December 29, 2022
Issued at HKT 18:41
Issued at HKT 18:41
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