Since 2018, children in Hong Kong have been able to enjoy a home-like experience while receiving treatment at the Special Administrative Region's first children's hospital.

The 468-bed Hong Kong Children's Hospital, was the first in Hong Kong to provide family and child-centric tertiary care to children with serious and life-threatening illnesses. It mainly deals with complex and rare cases.

"It's a hospital that doesn't look like a hospital," said Zhang Yi, CEO of the China State Construction International Medical Industry Development Cooperation Limited and site manager during the hospital's construction.

This photo shows a corner of Hong Kong Children's Hospital on Oct 28, 2021. (RAYMOND CHAN / CHINA DAILY)

By making use of colorful cartoon characters, the design objective was to create a non-institutional, home-like, child-friendly, comfortable environment that eased anxiety, Zhang said.

Lily Chiu Lee-lee, former doctor and currently operation director of CSCIMIDC, said that before its construction, a specialized pediatric hospital had been the dream of Hong Kong pediatricians for over 50 years.

Here, sick children can be happy and comfortable without fear, she said.