In recognition of this, the Hong Kong Society of Transplantation, supported by the Hospital Authority, the Department of Health and the Hong Kong Society of Nephrology, organized an event named ‘2009 Organ Recipient Thanksgiving Assembly’ on 31 Jan 2010.

Approximately 200 people met in the Prince of Wales Hospital, including 120 organ recipients and their family members.

The opening speech was made by the President of the Hong Kong Society of Transplantation, Prof. Philip Kam-tao Li; followed by the guest of honor, Mr. Shane Solomon, Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority.

In particular, Dr Che-hung Leong, who performed the first kidney transplantation in Hong Kong exactly 40 years ago, came and shared his vast experience and feelings.

One of the Transplant Coordinator, Ms. Yuen-fun Tong, contrasted the reactions of local Chinese families towards organ donation of their beloved ones in her career over 11 years.

Two of the 2009 recipients came up to the stage and told their stories under the mercury lights. Ms Kam received a zero-mismatched kidney 19 years after her first living-donated kidney failed. This has changed her life totally and she feels reborn with confidence and hope to plan ahead. Another 8-year-old girl received an age-and sized-matched heart at the verge of dying. Both ‘miracles’ happened due to the higher donation rates and more organs for matching.

In the end, all recipients and their family members lined up and presented flowers as a gesture of thanks to all the organ donors and their families.

1.  2009年全年遺體器官捐贈人數新高 (53人)

2.  2009年全年遺體腎臟捐贈數字為新高 (87)

3.  2009年全年遺體肝臟捐贈數字為新高 (43)

4.  首度遺體捐贈肝臟宗數超越活體捐贈 (43/ 41人)

5.  遺體捐贈者同意捐贈器官率為新高: 45.6 %

24 third-year medical students from the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong held a campaign titled “Support Organ Donation - pledge to be a donor!” to promote organ donation in Causeway Bay on 5^th December. 

The medical students, dressed as organs, gathered in the pedestrian zone in Great George Street and approached pedestrians to encourage them to register as an organ donor. During the 5 hours of promotion, 979 of signatures were collected from pedestrians pledging their support for organ donation. Dr. CHOY Bo Ying, Cindy, Vice-President of the Hong Kong Society of Transplantation Council ; Dr. CHENG Beatrice, co-ordinator of transplant services for the Hospital Authority and Council member of the Hong Kong Society of Transplantation; and Dr. HO Chung Ping, Chairman of Organ Donation Committee, the Hong Kong Medical Association pledged their support at a special card-signing ceremony.