Hong Kong public hospitals report decline in emergency visits over Lunar New Year
South China Morning Post
by Lo Hoi-yingFebruary 20, 2026
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Hong Kong’s public hospitals have reported a significant decline in emergency department visits during the Lunar New Year holiday, with numbers dropping by up to 15% year-on-year. This reduction has been attributed to fee reforms introduced earlier this year, which aim to adjust the costs associated with emergency care.
Typically, public hospital A&E departments experience overcrowding during extended holidays like the Lunar New Year, as private clinics close and people opt for emergency services instead. However, this year’s data shows a notable shift, with hospitals seeing fewer non-urgent cases. For instance, at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern
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Originally published on South China Morning Post on 2/20/2026