The government set out its long-awaited tendering conditions for two new private hospitals yesterday, drawing criticism from patients' representatives and prospective investors.
The move is part of a plan to expand private medical services to improve the balance between public and private medical services.
Yesterday's invitation to tender involves two sites for private hospitals, in Tai Po and Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, which will contain at least 300 beds each.
Under yesterday's unprecedented terms, half the new beds must be reserved for Hong Kong residents and obstetric services are capped at 20 per cent of all capacity.
On top of that, 30 per cent of all services must be made available at a standard package price that covers all costs, from surgery and medicine to meals. No such restrictions have been placed on private hospital construction in the city's history.
The restrictions were slightly more lenient than suggested earlier by Secretary for Food and Health Dr York Chow Yat-ngok, who initially said 70 per cent of the beds would be reserved for Hongkongers to cope with the increasing demand for medical services.