Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow has ordered an inquiry into the disappearance of baby boy's body from Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital's mortuary.

The hospital said today the body went missing January 2 and it reported the case to police and the Hospital Authority yesterday.

Dr Chow expressed concern over the incident and ordered an investigation. He extended his condolences to the baby's family.

The authority's cluster chief executive (Hong Kong East) Dr Loretta Yam met the family today to explain the incident and apologise, promising the hospital's best efforts to recover the body as soon as possible. She said a staff concerned has been suspended and the hospital is helping in the police investigation.

The boy was born prematurely in mid-December and later died. The body was stored in a mortuary cubicle December 15 and an adult body was later stored with it. The adult body was removed December 19 and returned to its family. However, the baby's body was found missing by mortuary staff during a routine check on January 2. The hospital has been searched but no sign of the body has been found.

Dr Yam admitted staff were too slow in reporting the case, adding the bodies may have been mishandled.

A multi-disciplinary team has been formed to support the family and a special panel has been set up to investigate the incident.