Sino Group, Ng Teng Fong Foundation give HK$30m for public cataract theatres
Sino Group and the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation have jointly donated HK$30 million to the Hospital Authority for two new cataract operating theatres. The facilities, due to open in late 2026, aim to cut waiting times and boost annual surgical output by about 5,500 procedures.
The Hospital Authority (HA) has received a joint donation of HK$30 million from Sino Group and the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation to set up two dedicated operating theatres for cataract surgery, in a move designed to expand public healthcare capacity and reduce patient waiting times.
The new facilities are scheduled to begin operations in the fourth quarter of next year, supporting government initiatives to improve ophthalmic treatment and provide timely surgical care for people with vision impairment. The development aligns with policy directions set out in the Chief Executive's Policy Address.
Under long-term public healthcare planning, following the relocation of Queen Elizabeth Hospital to Kai Tak, the statutory body plans to establish Hong Kong's first integrated ambulatory care hospital at King's Park. The site will include a high-volume day cataract surgery centre alongside other daytime medical services. Once operational in late 2026, the centre is expected to carry out about 5,500 cataract procedures each year, helping to clear existing treatment backlogs.
Construction work on the two dedicated operating suites began in August at the existing Queen Elizabeth Hospital Ambulatory Care Centre. Hospital Authority Chairman Henry Fan expressed gratitude to the donors, saying the contribution would be used directly to equip the specialised suites. He noted that high-volume day surgery facilities would significantly increase overall surgical output, and that the authority plans to bolster staffing and medical resources in tandem to shorten queues and improve clinical outcomes.
Nikki Ng, Philanthropy Director of Sino Group and a director of the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation, said good eyesight plays an essential role in daily quality of life. She said the foundation was proud to support public efforts to expand eye care services, and hoped the earlier commissioning of the operating rooms would allow thousands of residents to regain clear vision and resume their daily routines.
To mark the contribution, the Hospital Authority held an appreciation ceremony at its headquarters, where Fan and HA Chief Executive Dr Libby Lee presented certificates of gratitude to Ng and Sino Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer David Ng.