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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 second of its annual Donor Award Ceremonies today (June 8) at Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre to recognise 1 051 blood donors who cumulatively achieved 50 or more (multiples of 25) donations in 2013/2014.
Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC, and Chief Executive of Hospital Authority, Dr Leung Pak-yin, were invited as officiating guests. At the ceremony, Mr Yuen remarked that the maintenance of an adequate and stable blood supply in Hong Kong is not a matter of course. "On the contrary, facing the challenges of an increasingly aging local population, we need to step up the promotion of blood donation in the long run. I therefore hope that you will pass on your virtue in donating blood to more people, thus ensuring more will give blood regularly", Mr Yuen commented.
When delivering their speech, Chairman of Hong Kong Red Cross, Mr Vincent Lo, and Chairman of Blood Transfusion Service Governing Committee, Mr Philip Tsai, both recognised all the donors who received awards today. "It is truly commendable for blood donors to have donated blood voluntarily and regularly over the years to help unrelated patients or injured individuals. They are indeed the pride of Hong Kong", said Mr Tsai.
A leukaemia patient who has undergone a bone marrow transplant treatment shared today her road to recovery because of receiving blood. Prince of Wales Hospital Chief of Service of Department of Paediatrics, Dr Li Chi-kong, also shared his experience in treating patients, bringing out the message that blood donors can change the lives of patients.
The outstanding mobile drive organisers including schools and organisations were also recognised at the ceremony. Manulife and Hong Kong Polytechnic University were presented with the Special Merit Award. Fukien Secondary School (Siu Sai Wan) and Confucian Ho Kwok Pui Chun College were the winners of the Jean Cassels Trophy (presented to the top 10 schools with the highest percentage of participation in blood donation) and the Blood Transfusion Service Trophy (presented to the top 10 schools with the highest number of donations) respectively. Please refer to the appendix for the rest of the school awardees.
To celebrate June 14 as World Blood Donor Day, BTS will hold a series of promotional programmes, which include "Supporting Mum" Blood Donation Fortnight Promotion and World Blood Donor Day Online Quiz. A celebratory event will also be held to celebrate World Blood Donor Day on June 14 and Ms Kelly Chen will be invited as the Ambassador of the Day. For further details, please visit BTS website and Facebook Fanpage of World Blood Donor Day.
Ends/Sunday, June 8, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:31
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