Records on 600 psychiatric patients have been lost, the Hospital Authority announced last night.
It said a doctor in the accident and emergency department made a report to the management at United Christian Hospital (UCH) that she suspected a box of reprinted patient records, stored in the A&E doctors' office, was stolen on Tuesday.
Hospital management was said to be 'very concerned' about the case, as the entrance of the doctors' office was locked securely by an access control system and password lock.
It said the case was reported to police yesterday for investigation.
The reprinted A&E patient records were used for medical analysis and research, and involved about 600 psychiatric patients who had attended A&E at UCH previously.
The records, the statement said, contained patient personal data and treatment details, and they were photocopied versions so patients' treatment and hospital service should not be affected.
The authority said the hospital had activated contingency measures immediately, including conducting a thorough search within the A&E doctors' office, viewing CCTV footage, and checking office entry records to confirm whether the lost records were removed by an unauthorised person.