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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
A total of 25 blood donors, including six Legislative Council (LegCo) Members, 14 Secretariat staff members, three Members' Assistants and two members of the public gathered at the LegCo Building to participate in the meaningful annual Blood Donation today (May 6).
The mobile collection team of the Hong Kong Red Cross set up a temporary station in the Dining Hall of the historical building from 2.15pm to 5.15pm this afternoon to facilitate blood donation. LegCo Members who have joined the donation included Hon Tanya Chan, Hon Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, Hon Ip Kwok-him, Hon Lee Wing-tat, Hon Wong Kwok-hing and Hon Wong Ting-kwong.
The Secretary-General of the Legislative Council Secretariat, Ms Pauline Ng, expressed her deep appreciation to the blood donors. "In spite of the threat of Influenza A (H1N1), it is heartening to see a number of LegCo Members, Secretariat staff, Members' Assistants and members of the public to help those in need of blood. I urge that everyone to continue to support this meaningful act in the future," she said.
A spokesman for the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service said the event has achieved a satisfactory result. He mentioned that there has been a drop in blood donation since the outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1). He believed that the participation of LegCo Members would help encourage the public to give blood and save lives, also has shown that blood donation is safe and hygienic.
The first Blood Donation in the Legislative Council took place in 1988. To encourage more people to take part in this event, the Legislature started inviting members of the public to come to the Building to give blood together with LegCo Members from 1993.
Ends/Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:55
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