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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) held the Annual Donor Award ceremony today (June 20) to present awards to those who have cumulatively donated blood 25 times up to and including the last year. The total number of awardees has reached 1,548, the highest number in BTS records.
Professor Joseph Sung, the Vice-Chancellor-designate of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said at today's ceremony that he highly appreciated the committed contributions of blood donors. He urged more people, especially youngsters, to support World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) by donating blood.
Professor Sung said that the local population is ageing – patients older than 60 years account for about 60% of total annual blood consumption. In 25 years, it is forecast that people who are over 60 years old will increase from the current ratio of one in eight to one in four. With the growth and ageing of the population, local blood demand will without a doubt increase significantly. To ensure adequate blood supply is maintained at all times, it is important to have blood donors, institutions and organisations participate proactively in the blood programme.
The BTS last Sunday gave awards to 789 donors who have donated blood 50 times or more. The blood donation record holder in Hong Kong, Mr Li Kam-keung, broke his record again at 450 donations. Last Sunday, special awards were also presented to outstanding donors in the categories of Rh negative blood, whole blood and combined apheresis and whole blood donations. In addition, awards were presented to schools and organisations that made outstanding contributions in organising blood donation activities in the past year:
- Jean Cassels Trophy - to the Top 10 schools with the highest percentage of participation in blood donations in 2009/10 (Appendix I);
- BTS Trophy - to the Top 10 schools with the highest number of donations in 2009/10 (Appendix II); and
- Special Merit Award - to Sino Group and Intertek Testing Services Hong Kong Ltd in recognition of their long-term support of blood donation.
To celebrate WBDD and to show gratitude to blood donors, a mini blood donation calendar calculator is being presented to donors who give blood from now to June 28. For details, please call the BTS hotline at 2710 1234 or visit its website at www.ha.org.hk/rcbts .
Ends/Sunday, June 20, 2010
Issued at HKT 13:06
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