Eric Chan Urges People To Back Organ Donation Scheme

Chief Secretary Eric Chan on Sunday urged Hongkongers to support the city's organ donation scheme.

In a social media post, he also called on people to back the government's plan for a cross-border organ-matching programme, saying it will give hope to those desperately waiting for a transplant.

Meanwhile, organ donation coordinators at public hospitals said relatives of donors often don't mind who benefits from their loved ones' organs.

Cheung Suk-man, who works at Tuen Mun Hospital, said one family said they didn’t care where an organ was sent to, as long as it helped someone.

Leung Yu-tim, from United Christian Hospital, said he explains the value of organ donation if families have any concerns.

"Our role, our responsibility is to highlight the value of organ donation. It's not to discuss the policy, only to highlight the value and highlight the meaning of organ donation...that there's a high number of patients waiting for a transplant in order to survive," Leung said.

Cheung said each year, around 80 to 120 deceased people qualify as donors, but only around 40 percent of the families involved consent to organ donation.

She called on those who are willing to donate their organs after death to register with the authorities and also to tell their families about their decision.