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The Topping-out Ceremony of Infectious Disease Centre (IDC), Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) was held at 11.30am at the centre's construction site.
Officiating guests include Chairman of Kwai Tsing District Council Mr Chow Yick-hay, BBS, JP, and Chairman of Hospital Authority Mr Anthony Wu Ting-yuk, JP. Platform Guests included Chairman of Hospital Governing Committee, Kwai Chung and Princess Margaret Hospitals the Hon Vincent Fang, Deputy Director, Architectural Services Department, Mrs Marigold Lau, Chief Executive of Hospital Authority Dr Vivian Taam Wong, JP, Executive Director & President, China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Ltd Mr Zhou Yong, and Cluster Chief Executive, Kowloon West, Hospital Authority Dr Lily Chiu.
Chairman of Hospital Authority Mr Anthony Wu Ting-yuk, JP, said at the ceremony that the Infectious Disease Centre of PMH was made possible by the HKSAR Government reflecting its commitment to public health in the light of the outbreak of infectious disease. "PMH, being the sole infectious diseases centre in Hong Kong, admitted one third of the confirmed SARS patients in 2003. Throughout the years, the hospital has accumulated valuable experience and has a team of experts in managing infectious diseases," Mr Wu said.
Chairman of Hospital Governing Committee, Kwai Chung and Princess Margaret Hospitals Mr Vincent Fang said that when the Government decided to construct the Infectious Disease Centre in PMH, response from the local community varied. Mr Fang said the hospital took the initiative to meet local District Councillors and concerned parties and explain to them the infection control mechanism in the Hospital. "Visits to the newly renovated isolation wards were also arranged to better illustrate the monitoring of infection control measures. Only with the support and understanding from the local community, the construction of the Infectious Disease Centre was carried out smoothly."
It is expected that the construction of the centre will be completed by end of 2006 and services will begin in early 2007.
Ends/Saturday, January 21, 2006
Issued at HKT 13:06
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