Dear Members,

Last year, we celebrated our Society’s 30th anniversary and it is my great honour to be elected as the President of the Society. Here I have highlighted some of the important events our Society has organized or participated in the past year.

HKST Annual Scientific Meeting and 30th Anniversary Dinner

Our Annual Scientific Meeting was held together with the 30th Anniversary Dinner in Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel on 18/5/2025. The Scientific Meeting featured 4 sessions covering a variety of aspects in transplantation and organ donation. Professor John Fung (President of American Society of Transplantation) and Professor Gabriel Oniscu (President of European Society of Organ Transplantation) were the overseas speakers while Professor Michael Hsin, Dr Kam Kai Wai, Dr Cally Ho and Dr Garret Leung were the invited local speakers. In addition, Professor Albert Chan, Dr Maggie Ma and Dr Chow Kai Ming also delivered lectures. A total of 120 participants, including 73 doctors and 47 nurses attended this successful event. Astellas sponsored the lunch symposium and the topic was “Navigating Current Challenges in Kidney Transplantation”. Dr Nasrullah Undre (UK & Germany) and Professor Shigeru Satoh (Japan) were the speakers while I was the moderator in this symposium. The 30th Anniversary Dinner was held in the Grand Ballroom after the Annual Scientific Meeting. There were 13 tables with 143 guests coming from the Hospital Authority, Department of Health, various medical and nursing organizations and patient support groups. Professor Lo Chung Mau (Secretary for Health) gave his opening speech. There were music performances by doctors from different specialties and all the guests enjoyed a wonderful night.

Donor Family Day

The Donor Family Day was originally scheduled at Kam Tin Country Club on 30th November 2025. However, it was cancelled after the Tai Po fire incident. The food prepared has been donated to Food Angel (惜食堂) and the event will be rescheduled to 29th November 2026.

Organ Donation Day

The Organ Donation Day was held on the 8th November 2025 at the Kitty Woo Stadium. It was co-organized by the Health Bureau, the Department of Health together with the Radio Television Hong Kong (RHTK). The event aims to encourage the public to embrace the spirit of generosity by actively supporting and registering as organ donors, to rekindle hope for patients urgently awaiting organ transplants. The officiating guests included Professor Lo Chung Mau (Secretary for Health), Dr Ronald Lam (Director of Health) and Dr Libby Lee (Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority). The program was filmed and broadcasted on the RTHK TV Channel. Professor Philip Li, Professor Desmond Yap, Dr Chow Kai Ming, Miss Tang Yuen Yee, Mr Leung Yu Tim and I have joined the event.

Endless Love – Healing Act Program (大愛恩人)

This event has been organized by the Hong Kong Kidney Foundation since 2017 to honour the deceased organ donors and promote organ donation. In this year, the event was held on the 14th December 2025 at the Junk Bay Chinese Permanent Cemetery, where deceased organ donors were honored with an individual plaque on the Memorial Wall at the Garden of Remembrance. Guests of Honour included Dr Cecilia Fan (the Under Secretary for Health), Dr Kellie So from the Department of Health, and Dr Chris Tsang from the Hospital Authority. During the occasion, there were heartfelt sharing sessions by the transplant recipient and donor family member. Dr Chau Ka Foon, Dr Desmond Yap and I have represented the HKST to support the event.

Organ Donation Promotion Working Group

Our society continues to be part of the Working Group of the Department of Health with regular meetings to report and discuss strategies to promote organ donation in Hong Kong. Prof Philip Li, Dr Chau Ka Foon and myself are representatives for the society. The 36th Organ Promotion Meeting was held on 8/10/2025 and I represented the Society to report our past (Donor Family Day 2024 and Thanksgiving Ceremony 2025) and upcoming organ promotion activities.

Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Organ Donation Task Force

A Task Force on Organ Donation was set up in Hong Kong Academy of Medicine to discuss strategies to promote organ donation in Hong Kong. It includes doctors from different specialties. Professor Philip Li was the Convenor. Dr Chow Kai Ming (Physician), Dr James Fung and I (immediate past and present President of HKST) joined the Task Force. The second and third meetings were held on 19/8/2025 and 9/2/2026 respectively.

HKST Organ Donation Task Group

An Organ Donation Task Group has been set up in our Society to identify measures that can promote organ donation and increase public awareness on its importance, especially amongst the younger generation through investment in the use of social media platforms and education. The task force includes Prof Philip Li, Dr Maggie Ma, Dr James Fung, Dr Yim Ka Fai, Dr Chow Kai Ming, Miss Jenny Koo, and me.

World Transplant Game 2025

Our Society fully supported the Hong Kong transplant athletes participating in the World Transplant Game 2025. The Game was held in Dresden, Germany in August 2025. The kick-off ceremony was held on 3rd August 2025 while the celebration party was held on 5th October 2025. Both events were organized by the Hong Kong Transplant Sports Association at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Many of our council members went to support the events. Total 44 delegates from Hong Kong participated in the Game and won 46 medals (9 gold, 12 silver and 25 bronze), ranking 18th out of 48 teams.

Tree of Life 15th Anniversary Ceremony

The Tree of Life Garden was established in Prince of Wales Hospital in 2010 to honour the compassion shown by organ donors in Hong Kong. The 15th anniversary ceremony was held on 20/11/2025. There were also sharing sessions by doctors, nurses, transplant recipient and organ donor family member on promotion of organ donation. I represented the Society to participate in this event.

“Organ Donation Journey of Love” Advertisement Design Competition award ceremony

“Organ Donation Journey of Love” 「器官捐贈 同途有愛」Advertisement Design Competition was organized by Hong Kong Organ Transplant Foundation for all secondary school students in Hong Kong. The aim of this competition is to let students gain better knowledge and increase their awareness of organ donation. The winning design would be exhibited as advertising posters to help promote organ donation to the public. I represented the Society to attend the award ceremony held in Central Market on 1/11/2025.

Collaboration with Oriental Publications

In order to increase the awareness and knowledge of public on organ donation and transplantation, we have started our collaboration with Oriental Daily again to publish articles written by our Society’s members since September last year. The articles are published in the column 人間大愛 in alternate week and will be uploaded to our social media later. Dr Chan Hoi Wong helps the coordination between the Society and the Oriental Publications.

Membership

The current number of full members is 128, with a further 37 as associated member, 13 past presidents, with a total number of 178 members. Active members can access relevant contents on the society website, including webinars and power point slides.

Social Media and Website

The Society website (http:/hkst.org) and Facebook are currently maintained with the help of Dr Gordon Chan. They will continue to have updated news and photos of events of the society, along with materials promoting organ donation.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Office Bearers, Council Members, and Past Presidents for your unwavering support through the past year. I am looking forward towards another successful and challenging year.

Dr Simon Cheung

President, Hong Kong Society of Transplantation