HK's Healthcare Standard At Stake, Warn Activists

Hong Kong stands to lose out on its healthcare standards if overcrowding in hospitals is not solved soon, a group of organisations warned on Thursday.

Natalie Tsui, a public hospital nurse who is part of a concern group called Jordan Peers, said hospitals are already operating beyond their capacity.

Tsui said the government should show some love and care for medical staff and all Hong Kong residents – including mainlanders who are settled in Hong Kong already.

She warned that allowing thousands of new immigrants in is adding to their woes, as when they come in as patients, they are not familiar with the system here and have difficulty in communicating. The hospital workers then take more time to deal with them, she said.

Concern groups plan to hold a protest on Sunday to call on the government to cut the number of one-way permits for mainlanders.

The alliance of concern groups – which also includes the Neo Democrats, Christian Fellowship of City Concern, and Radiation Therapist and Radiographer Conscience – will march from Mong Kok to the district government office.