Health | Wong says Islands Hospital unlikely to be completed by 2019

Eddie Wong Yue Kai, a member of the Executive Council, stated on Wednesday that it is unlikely that the Islands Hospital will be completed by 2019, according to a report by Jornal Cheng Pou.
Wong belongs to the managing group of one of the companies responsible for the projects’ construction design, informing that the design process of the complex has not yet been completed. However, the government had previously mentioned that the project would be complete by 2019. “From the engineering perspective, since the beginning we have thought the estimation to be over optimistic,” Wong admitted. In a few days, his company will hand in the latest design for the project.
In addition to the medical complex planned to be established on the island, Wong’s company is also one of companies responsible for the design of the controversial Infectious Diseases Building. As stated by Wong, his company was hired to re-design the facility with an adjustment to its height, namely to make it smaller. According to Wong, it will take a few months to amend the design plans.
Wong believes that the new design for the Infectious Diseases Building cannot be completed within the year, taking into account the government’s approval process.
Earlier, the Health Bureau and the Infrastructure Development Office began fencing off the controversial land that was chosen as the construction site for the Infectious Diseases Building.
According to the bureau, the eight-floor facility will be essential in preventing the outbreak of infectious diseases, including airborne and waterborne viruses, as well as those transmitted through blood and bodily fluids.
A number of geotechnical engineers have pointed out that excavations in construction sites need to be careful in order to not cause any landslides. Wong claims that major obstacles are not expected if the excavation runs smoothly.
During Wednesday’s Legislative Assembly plenary meeting in response to the lawmaker’s questions regarding the Infectious Disease Building, Chief Executive Chui Sai On affirmed his support for Macau’s infectious disease prevention program. “If the economy, land, and human resources are in good conditions, why shouldn’t we prepare better?” asked Chui, who also claims that the city will put the lives and safety of the residents in first place.