Press Releases

Government sets up Committee on Promotion of Organ Donation

The Government has set up the Committee on Promotion of Organ Donation to further promote organ donation. The Committee will co-ordinate and integrate relevant work by different government departments and organisations to augment public education and publicity, so as to foster and fortify the culture of organ donation.

A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said today (April 15) that the Committee is responsible for formulating strategies and directions for organ donation promotion, co-ordinating activities for promoting and facilitating organ donation, as well as formulating programmes and activities to encourage and educate the public on organ donation. The Committee will also invite non-governmental organisations, institutions, members of the community and the media to participate in various activities and programmes, with a view to enhancing public understanding of and reducing their resistance and hesitation to organ donation. It is hoped that through these efforts, Hong Kong people will be willing to donate organs after death to save other people's lives.

"Organ donation and transplant, and eventually whether patients can be saved, depend on a number of factors. The Hospital Authority (HA) has put in place a mechanism to handle and co-ordinate various clinical aspects involved in the process. However, a key factor is the attitude of the general public towards organ donation. The Government has been inculcating a culture of organ donation in the community, hoping that the public can accept the concept of donating organs after death to bring new lives to others," the spokesman said.

Members of the Committee are appointed by the Secretary for Food and Health for a period of two years with effect from today. The Committee is chaired by the Under Secretary for Food and Health, with members coming from the education sector, business sector, patient groups, healthcare sector and other professions, related government departments and the HA. The spokesman expressed gratitude to members for accepting their appointments and supporting the promotion of organ donation.

The membership list of the Committee on Promotion of Organ Donation is as follows:

Chairperson:
Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee (Under Secretary for Food and Health)

Members:
Dr Chak Wai-leung
Dr Chau Ka-foon
Ms Ken Cheng Yuk-kam
Mr Chua Hoi-wai
Ms Jenny Koo
Mr James Lam Yat-fung
Mr Paul Law Siu-hung
Dr Donald Li Kwok-tung
Mrs Gloria Ng Wong Yee-man
Dr Peter Pang
Ms Josephine Pang Tsui Mei-wan
Dr Louis Shih Tai-cho
Mr Sze Wing-hang
Mr Joseph Tam Sik-yeung
Representatives from the Food and Health Bureau
Representative from the Department of Health
Representative from the Information Services Department
Representative from the Hospital Authority

Secretary:
Assistant Secretary for Food and Health (Health)

Ends/Friday, April 15, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:07

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