A group of 14 pro-establishment columnists has submitted a petition to Hong Kong’s leader calling for an investigation into a hospital’s allegedly poor treatment of a veteran writer, whose death on Wednesday triggered a wider debate on the quality of the city’s public health care system.

Jiang Xun, the 74-year-old deputy chief editor of weekly Chinese-language magazine Yazhou Zhoukan and award-winning writer, died in Yan Chai Hospital in Tsuen Wan.

The writers’ letter, seen by the Post, urged Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to ensure the hospital answered all questions surrounding his death, as Jiang had allegedly complained of not receiving timely attention.

Yan Chai Hospital in Tsuen Wan.

The petition was filed on Friday, while a hospital spokesman also issued a statement to explain itself.

He said the medical team had done its best to treat the patient – whom he did not name – and provided appropriate treatment, while pledging to review measures to enhance communications between family members and staff.

As the patient’s family had raised questions about the cause of death, the hospital held a meeting with them on Friday to explain the case, the spokesman said.

He said that due to the rapid deterioration of the patient’s condition, his death had been referred to the Coroner’s Court for follow-up to determine how he died and the hospital would cooperate fully with the investigation.

Jiang had complained of “excruciating pain” in messages to his wife, and was “screaming and moaning in agony over the phone” at one point, according to the columnists’ letter.

It also said the case exposed the urgent need for reforms in the city’s overcrowded public health sector.

“A review is really in order as this can happen to anyone,” said Yeung Chee-kong, former associate vice-president of Baptist University, who led the petition.

“I understand the medical staff are doing a great job and admire their commitment to stay in the public sector rather than leaving for the more lucrative private market.

“But the system should make sure resources get delivered to where they are needed.”

The petition said the care Jiang received in hospital raised concerns that needed to be addressed.

“We look to you as our chief executive to do whatever it takes to make sure the questions are answered and concern addressed,” the letter said.

Others signatories included columnists Christine Wat Wing-yin, Andrew Fung Wai-kwong and Francis Lui Ting-ming.

Writer Christine Wat signed the letter.

After working for two newspapers in Shanghai for 20 years, Jiang moved to Hong Kong in 1994 and joined Yazhou Zhoukan as a senior correspondent. He was later promoted to deputy chief editor of the magazine.

He played a key role in the magazine’s collaboration with the Trade Development Council during the annual Book Fair to organise talks by authors with different backgrounds.

On Wednesday, former chief executive Leung Chun-ying posted on his Facebook page: “My heartfelt condolences to Mr Jiang Xun.”

News of Jiang’s death was widely circulated in mainland Chinese social media with some questioning whether he had received unfavourable treatment because of his pro-establishment stance.

But a close friend said the family did not want the incident to be politicised, stressing they just wanted to “get the facts right” and for a more humane approach in patient care.

“Throughout his life, the teacher insisted he was a journalist, seeking the truth, and a patriot, dedicated to his country,” said the insider, passing on a message from the family.

The letter said Jiang had been admitted to Yan Chai Hospital at about 10.30pm on Sunday and was discharged 16 hours later. He was sent back to hospital with a fever and readmitted at about 11pm on Monday, complaining throughout of excruciating pain in text messages to his wife.

The letter suggested no doctor attended to Jiang for the first 12 hours after his readmission – a point disputed by the hospital spokesman.

“We are saddened by the loss of the patient and extend our deepest sympathies to the family. Our patient liaison officer will continue to follow up on their requests and provide assistance,” the spokesman said.

Economist Francis Lui also signed the letter.

A source said the hospital was busy on Sunday as Tropical Storm Lionrock had hit the city.

The hospital said a doctor first saw the patient around midnight.

The duty doctor saw him again at about 2.30am and arranged for blood tests, urine tests, X-ray and an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to help diagnose the cause of the fever. The patient was later moved to the intensive care unit.

“Doctors attended to him at least six to seven times, and once he was moved into intensive care, there were medial staff around,” the source said, adding there was no apparent evidence to suggest any medical mistreatment had taken place.

Patients’ rights advocate Tim Pang Hung-cheong suggested communication could be improved between hospital staff and family members, especially as visits were tightly controlled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this month, Luo Huining, director of Beijing’s liaison office in the city, mentioned the health care service as an area of interest after a week-long community outreach drive to “listen directly to the grass roots”.

The Chief Executive’s Office said it had received the petition and would follow up on the case.