Foundation work for the New Acute Hospital in the Kai Tak development area will resume after government approval has been given, the Hospital Authority announced yesterday.

Foundation work has been put on hold since October 8 after ground settlement exceeding the preset trigger level for work suspension was recorded at four monitoring checkpoints.

Following the suspension, the project's contractor submitted an incident report to the authority and completed the relevant mitigation and rehabilitation measures.

A spokesman for the authority said: "The HA, together with its project team and independent checking consultant, have inspected the site and confirmed that it's structurally and operationally safe."

The ground settlement has been addressed, he said, adding the preset trigger level for work suspension will remain unchanged at 25 millimeters.

New Acute Hospital is set to become one of the largest hospitals in Hong Kong, with plans for it to house 2,400 beds and 37 operating theaters. Foundation work for the hospital began in 2018, and the authority is aiming for the project to be completed by 2025.

The Legislative Council's finance committee approved HK$30.6 billion for the project in July 2021.

The resumption came as the Drainage Services Department too announced that foundation work for the Tsui Ping River project will resume in the vicinity of Wai Fat Road near Wai Yip Street in Kwun Tong.

The work has been suspended since January 12 when, similar to the previous case, the reading recorded in a settlement monitoring checkpoint exceeded the preset trigger level.

After inspecting the highway structure and facilities in the vicinity, authorities confirmed the site is structurally safe.

The department said it will continue to monitor the situation, adding the 2024 target for completion remains unchanged.

Acute hospital and Tsui Ping River work resumes as ground fears are mollified