CUHK Medical Centre to repay HK$4 billion government loan early

The Chinese University of Hong Kong says it plans to repay a HK$4 billion government loan for CUHK Medical Centre ahead of schedule, using reserves built up after a turnaround in the hospital's finances.

Council chairman John Chai Yat-chiu said the university raised the early repayment proposal with the Health Bureau last month.

He said the council had approved using part of an undesignated fund to make the repayment as a loan to the hospital.

The hospital had been described as debt-ridden, but Chai said an extension to the repayment period approved last year gave the institution time to improve governance and operations.

He said returns from the university reserve fund had also performed well over the past two years.

The move matters because the loan was originally provided to support the non-profit-making private teaching hospital, and early repayment suggests its financial position has strengthened.

CUHK's consolidated net assets were HK$32.5 billion as of 30 June 2025, according to the university's latest annual report.

The issue was due to be discussed at a Legislative Council health panel meeting on Friday, but the item was not reached because time ran out on other business.

The hospital's finances have been under scrutiny as the university works through the repayment plan.

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