25th May 2023 – (Hong Kong) Hong Kong’s Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, gave a speech today at the Legislative Council regarding the implementation of organ transplant cooperation with mainland China. He criticised the abundance of false information related to organ transplantation in China that can be found online, stating that a Google search for information on the topic will yield many articles and information from unreliable sources.
Professor Lo explained that while there is a lot of transparent information available to the public, there are many false claims and misinformation online, particularly regarding organ transplant practices in China. He stated that many of the articles and information that appear in search results are meant to discredit China’s organ donation and transplant system. He expressed concern that younger generations may be influenced by this false information.
The Secretary also mentioned that there are many false claims circulating online, such as the idea that one will be automatically registered as an organ donor if they do not opt out, or that living people are being sent for organ donations. He stressed that these false claims are harmful to the culture and atmosphere surrounding organ donation and transplantation.
In his concluding remarks, Professor Lo reflected on his 30 years of experience in the field of organ donation and transplantation. He recalled a 13-year-old girl who had passed away due to a traffic accident while he was receiving training abroad three decades ago. Her mother expressed the desire to allow her daughter to continue “living” in another body. Professor Lo expressed his disbelief at the time, wondering when Hong Kong would adoptsuch a mindset. He emphasized that organ donation and transplantation are important life-saving procedures, and that it is crucial for the public to have access to accurate information in order to make informed decisions about their own health and well-being.