Construction of 'big and complex' Lok Ma Chau Loop hospital begins

Nearly 2,000 workers have begun constructing the 1,000-bed makeshift hospital at the Lok Ma Chau Loop, which is also expected to provide up to 10,000 beds for isolation and treatment of patients.

At around 6am yesterday, some 1,700 workers and 200 management staff from China State Construction International began working at the site, which was originally meant for the loop's innovation and technology park project.

Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu said the makeshift hospital is the "biggest and most complex" among the nine being supported by the central government and which will provide a total of 50,000 beds.

Some of the nine will be completed within this month while the others are targeted for April at the earliest.

"With the increase of isolation facilities and effective large-scale testing, Hong Kong has the ability to reverse the escalating epidemic and reach zero-Covid," Lee said on his blog.

Temporary bridges will be built in the boundary area of the loop. Lee said he exercised his authority under the Emergency (Exemption from Statutory Requirements) (Covid-19) Regulation to exempt the construction projects and related personnel and materials within the fenced-off works site from being bound by the relevant laws of Hong Kong.

The bridges will allow point-to-point conveyance of construction personnel and materials between the fenced-off work site at the loop and the Shenzhen boundary, he said.

Lee also said the makeshift hospital at former San Tin Shopping City will be the next project to be completed, following the 3,900-bed Tsing Yi facility, which commenced service last week.

On mandatory citywide testing, Lee said the government will explain the details once the plan is set.

He added that authorities will ensure a stable and sufficient supply of food and daily necessities throughout the testing process.

Sources said up to 4,000 police officers, including riot police, could be allocated for the "soft lockdown" to begin on March 26 at the earliest.

carine.chow@singtaonewscorp.com