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.

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.

(With inputs from China Daily)