Hong Kong public hospitals report decline in emergency visits over Lunar New Year

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Lo Hoi-yingFebruary 20, 2026 at 06:15 AM

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Hong Kong public hospitals experienced a decrease in emergency room visits during the first three days of the Lunar New Year holiday. Dr. Axel Siu Yuet-chung, chairman of the Hospital Authority’s coordinating committee, reported the decline, ranging from 11 to 15 percent compared to the previous year. This drop follows recent fee adjustments implemented at the beginning of the year. While urgent cases were seen promptly, non-urgent patients faced lengthy wait times, averaging around four hours across most public hospitals, with some locations experiencing waits up to nine hours. The reduction in emergency visits occurred during a period when private clinics are typically closed, often leading to overcrowding in public hospital A&E departments.