If Carrie Lam really wanted to force them to take in patients, She can use Emergency Regulations Ordinance to compel them to do so. However, Hong Kong always claim it is small government and laissez faire society. Carrie Lam as a colonial trained bureaucrat would unlikely enact such laws. Instead Carrie Lam would try to negotiate with private hospitals which is what she is doing right now to take in more non-covid patients.
Look at this way, Carrie Lam is reluctant to even call upon mainland China doctors and nurses for reinforcement. She is dragging her feet as public hospitals doctors and nurses were fearful that by allowing mainland doctors and nurses to come to Hong Kong would eventually lead to future granting mainland doctors and nurses of the rights to be a practitioner in HK.
In the end of the day, even in such an emergency as so many people are dying. Special interests still would override sensible decision. Carrie Lam as a leader is indecisive and not able to foresee obstacles and find a way around them before train wreck. We just hope that all those temporary makeshift hospitals and quarantine facilities building by mainland could be put into use to make a difference.
