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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 19) to present awards to people who made 25 blood donations in the past year. The BTS also announced that the number of such donors has reached a new record of 1 612.
Chief Executive of Hospital Authority, Dr Leung Pak-yin, said he highly appreciated the precious contributions of so many regular blood donors. Last year, 158 669 public-spirited individuals donated 226 718 bags of blood to the Hong Kong Red Cross, an increase of 5.6% year on year. Dr Leung pointed out that elderly people aged 60 and above are the main blood recipients and account for nearly 60% of total annual blood consumption. With the ageing of the local population, it is projected that in the coming 25 years the increase in local blood demand will exceed 25%; just last year there was already a 5.3% increase year on year. Citing this increasing demand, Dr Leung urged more people to donate blood for saving more lives.
In 2010-11, the number of donors who cumulatively achieved 25 or more blood donations reached 2 393, the highest level in BTS records. In view of the large number of award recipients this year, the ceremony held last Sunday awarded the first batch of 781 donors, who achieved 50 or more blood donations.
To celebrate World Blood Donor Day and show appreciation to blood donors, a handy calculator with pen is being presented to each donor who gives blood from today until June 30. For details, please call the hotline at 2710 1234 or visit our website at www.ha.org.hk/rcbts.
Ends/Sunday, June 19, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:02
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