Traditional fung shui masters warn against living in apartment buildings that are close to hospitals, the main problem being that the sha chi of patients and their concerned relatives will be felt by people living nearby. However, in places such as Hong Kong, where space is a constraint, it is not uncommon to see residential buildings next to health care facilities. In such circumstances, situations should be considered on a case-by-case basis.

As far as possible, mental-health hospitals should be avoided, as should hospitals with major accident and emergency facilities and those offering radiation or chemotherapy treatment. It's also recommended that maternity hospitals (due to the pain and trauma of childbirth) and hospitals where there are likely to be terminally ill patients should be given a wide berth. Private hospitals where the patients undergo elective surgery will not create as much of a problem.

Perhaps doing your own investigation will be beneficial in this instance. If the building you intend to move into is occupied, make discreet inquiries about the health of the previous and current occupants. Is the unit you are interested in directly facing the hospital? Are there any barriers, such as buildings, trees, roads, canals or walls between your building and the hospital? What's the size of the hospital relative to your building? Knowing the answers to these questions should give you a rough idea as to the dangers posed to your prospective home.