Symposium 9 - Commissioning and Retro-commissioning of Hospitals

The commissioning of Kwong Wah Hospital Phase I was successfully completed in July 2023. The whole process was however started more than 1 year before the completion of major construction work in December of 2022. The various preparatory work for commissioning were taken up by respective functional workgroups that reported regularly to hospital management. Crucial critical paths and milestones were closely monitored. The actual move-in arrangement and schedule was drafted after careful planning and contingency anticipation. A direct command structure similar to crisis management was crucial for handling of unforeseen problems and difficulties during the weeks of actual moving in. 

Development of public healthcare facilities has been on-going in Hong Kong. In particular, projects under the First Hospital Development Plan (HDP) have been in vigorous progress since the announcement of HK$200B Plan in the 2016 Policy Address. Another HK$300B have been set aside as announced in the 2018 Policy Address for the Second HDP which will include the development of a hospital network in the Northern Metropolis according to the 2022 Policy Address. The HDP is a long term strategic investment in the future healthcare system of Hong Kong to ensure world-class facilities would be provided to deliver cutting edge care, to meet the changing needs and rising demand in the 2020s and beyond. Alongside the HDP, the Government has also been actively promoting the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong, including developing Hong Kong's first Chinese Medicine Hospital. Success in development of healthcare facilities rely upon close collaboration among stakeholders through the full process from setting out functional requirements supportive of up-to-date healthcare approaches to design, construction, installations and beyond. The high density of Hong Kong demands and enables often unprecedented models both in delivering the development projects as well as the healthcare services. With some projects of the First HDP recently completed and many under construction, this is a valuable moment in time to harvest from past experiences, and grasp update market innovation and technology for healthcare facilities development projects going forward.

The healthcare sector is one of the most energy-intensive built environment worldwide accounting for a range of 5 to 8 percent of global energy consumption. In quest for a green sustainable and eco-friendly healthcare system among all public hospitals, it is a challenge of reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission but without compromising quality of clinical services and pleasant environment, seemingly a double edged sword scenario. Despite HA has long history in embarking into promoting energy savings which started from 1998 with simple staff energy saving awareness measure toward a recently wide array of energy saving initiative across the public hospitals, it remains a definite commitment with clear energy saving goal. In 2016, HA has resolutely moved into target based approach and committed to the Government's 4T (Target, Timeline, Transparency and Together) Charter of pursing 5% energy saving by 2023 using 2015 as baseline. Via various energy saving initiatives like replacing for more efficient building services equipment, adopting of advanced LED control system and carrying out Retro-commissioning etc. and the saving has exceeded the target. Looking ahead, HA has also venturing into new government's announced Carbon Neutrality policy, that is aiming for a cumulative 15-20% energy savings by 2035. Apart from implementing previous successful energy-saving measures, HA is exploring more innovative initiatives such as installing advanced Tri-generation Plant that generates electricity, cooling, and heating within hospital by using renewable landfill gas. HA is also actively considering the use of hydrogen which is now being considered at the forefront of a green fuel driving power generation for our future.