Hospital Authority Completes Support Services Centre to Enhance Patient Care and Emergency Response

Hospital Authority Support Services Centre commences operation in phases

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (March 29) that the construction of the Hospital Authority Support Services Centre (HASSC) has been substantially completed and the operation has commenced in phases, providing laundry, patient catering, critical personal protective equipment and key linen storage, and data center services. The HASSC aims to enhance patient support services in public hospitals and strengthen their capability to handle emergencies.

The Director of Cluster Services of the HA, Dr Simon Tang, said, "To meet the growing demand for healthcare services, the HA not only carries out a series of hospital development and improvement projects, but also builds other service facilities to enhance patient supporting services. The HASSC will centrally co-ordinate patient supporting services of HA hospitals, such as patient catering and laundry service for patient linens, thereby releasing space for clinical or other services in public hospitals. The HASSC adopts automated systems and robotics technology to reduce operational and logistics costs, as well as improving operational efficiency."

The Cluster Chief Executive of Kowloon West Cluster of the HA, Dr Law Chun-bon, expressed his gratitude to the relevant HA departments for their united efforts in the preparatory work, which enabled the timely commissioning and operation of the HA's first supporting services centre. "The establishment of the HASSC shall enhance patient supporting services and facilities of the HA, becoming an indispensable part of public healthcare services and complementing clinical services," he said.

The HASSC covers an area of approximately 62 000 square meters and includes a central laundry centre, a central food production unit, a corporate data centre, and central emergency stores. The data centre and central emergency stores have been in operation since January this year, while the central laundry centre and central food production unit began phased operations in mid-March.

The HASSC will gradually increase its service capacity. By 2030, it is expected that the central laundry centre and central food production unit will be able to meet half of the laundry and catering needs of public hospitals. The corporate data centre will also support half of the total data centre requirement of the HA which will significantly enhance the information technology capacity of public hospitals. Additionally, the central emergency stores at the HASSC will store emergency personal protective equipment and supplies, ensuring flexibility in response to pandemics, disasters, or emergencies, thereby strengthening the HA's emergency response capabilities.

Hospital Authority Support Services Centre commences operation in phases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hospital Authority Support Services Centre commences operation in phases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hospital Authority Support Services Centre commences operation in phases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hospital Authority Support Services Centre commences operation in phases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hospital Authority Support Services Centre commences operation in phases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR Government strongly condemns US for intimidating Central Authorities and HKSAR officials safeguarding national security through so-called "sanctions"

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (April 1) strongly condemns the United States (US) for including six Central Authorities and HKSAR officials in a so-called "sanctions" list in an attempt to intimidate the relevant officials safeguarding national security. It, once again, clearly exposed the US' barbarity under its hegemony, which is exactly the same as its recent tactics in bullying and coercing various countries and regions. The HKSAR despises such so-called "sanctions" and is not intimidated by such despicable behaviour. The HKSAR officials will continue to resolutely discharge the duty of safeguarding national security. The HKSAR Government will make every effort to protect the legitimate rights and interests of all personnel.

A spokesman for the HKSAR Government pointed out, "The specified absconders mentioned in the US statement are wanted and have arrest warrants issued by the court against them not because they 'exercised their freedom of speech', but because they have been at large in the US, the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia, etc. and continue to blatantly engage in activities endangering national security, including inciting secession and requesting foreign countries to impose 'sanctions' or blockade and engage in other hostile activities against the People's Republic of China and the HKSAR. The US, however, gives cover for them who have committed these evil deeds. It is therefore necessary for the HKSAR to take all lawful measures in accordance with the law, including measures specified under section 89 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, to strongly combat such acts. The specified measures aim at addressing, combating, deterring and preventing acts of abscondment by suspects, and procuring the return of the absconded persons to Hong Kong to face judicial proceedings. All specified measures align with human rights requirements; and quite a number of countries including the US, the UK and Canada would also impose such measures on wanted criminals. The US deliberately smeared and spread irresponsible remarks on the measures and actions taken by the HKSAR Government in accordance with the law in an attempt to mislead the public. The HKSAR Government strongly disapproves of such acts."

The spokesman also pointed out, "The fact is that the US has been ignoring the non-interference principle under international law, interfering with other countries' internal affairs, grooming agents, instigating 'colour revolutions', creating social unrest and multiple humanitarian disasters through economic and military coercion, causing suffering to people in many countries. With the Central Authorities having enacted the Hong Kong National Security Law and the HKSAR having completed the legislative exercise to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong has strengthened the legal regime in safeguarding national security and prevented the US from succeeding. The false accusation thereafter against the HKSAR personnel safeguarding national security dutifully, faithfully and in accordance with the law and, on top of that, the imposition of the so-called 'sanctions' in the guise of defending human rights and democracy indeed constitute a demonstration of shameless hypocrisy with double standards on the part of the US.

"The HKSAR Government has the responsibility to pursue, in accordance with the law, those who are suspected to have committed offences endangering national security and absconded overseas. The HKSAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or entities concerned, which have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation. The Department of Justice of the HKSAR is in charge of criminal prosecutions under Article 63 of the Basic Law, with all its prosecutorial decisions made on an objective analysis of all admissible evidence and applicable laws."