The number of people seeking medical treatment at major public hospitals' accident and emergency departments during the Lunar New Year holiday rose 1.5% on a year earlier to 5,496 people a day, the Hospital Authority says.

The figure also represents a 5.2% rise when compared with January's daily average.

A total of 21,982 people sought medical treatment at major public hospitals' A&E departments from January 28 to 31. Of them, 10.7% went to Tuen Mun Hospital, 10.1% went to United Christian Hospital and 4.3% sought treatment at Ruttonjee Hospital.

Compared with January's daily average, most public hospitals' attendance grew during the holiday. Tseung Kwan O Hospital recorded the largest growth, at 21.9%, followed by North District Hospital, at 21.1%.

The attendance of Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern and Queen Mary Hospitals' A&E departments also went up 18.1%, 17.2% and 10.1%.

However, the number of people seeking treatment at Queen Elizabeth and Kwong Wah Hospitals' A&E departments dropped 8% and 6.1%. Tuen Mun Hospital also recorded a dip of 1.6%.