The 50th Anniversary of Organ Transplant history in HK Ceremony was held at Queen Mary Hospital, with the presence of over 150 guests. The officiating guests Prof. Chan Siu-chee, Sophia, Secretary for Food and Health, and Dr. Leong Che-hung, President of Hong Kong Kidney Foundation, together with pioneers in organ transplant attended the special event to review and celebrate the development and achievement of organ donation and transplant in Hong Kong for the past 50 years.
It is the 50th Anniversary of Organ Transplant history in Hong Kong in 2019, since the first kidney transplant took place in Queen Mary Hospital in 1969. The Hong Kong Organ Transplant Foundation (HKOTF) organized an event on 14 July 2019 to commemorate the important milestone while at the same time express gratitude to stakeholders who have contributed to the history of organ donation and transplant in Hong Kong throughout the years.
Prof. Sophia Chan, Secretary for Food and Health, pioneers in organ transplant including Dr. Leong Che-hung (first kidney transplant in 1969), Prof. Fan Sheung-tat (first liver transplant in 1991), Dr. Chiu Shui-wah (first heart transplant in 1992), Dr. Cheung Wai-lun, Project Director of Chinese Medicine Hospital Project Office, Dr. Albert Chau, Vice-President (Teaching and Learning) of HKBU, representatives from the medical and education sectors attended the ceremony to witness the development and achievement of organ transplant and donation in Hong Kong. The launching of the book “Love Continued—Hong Kong Organ Donation and Transplant History Oral History for 50 Years” compiled by HKOTF was annouced at the ceremony.
(From left) Dr. Albert Chau, Prof. Chan See-ching, Prof. Fan Sheung-tat, Prof. Ho Wing-chung, Clara, Dr. Leong Che-hung, Prof. Sophia Chan, Dr. Kelvin Ho, Dr. Cheung Wai-lun and Dr. Chiu Shui-wah, jointly announced the launching of the book “Love‧Continued – Hong Kong Organ Donation and Transplant Oral History for 50 years” compiled by HKOTF.
Prof. Sophia Chan expressed her gratitude to guests attending the ceremony, including organ donors and their families, medical practitioners, and various organizations for their unfailing support to the development of organ donation and transplant throughout the years.
Dr. Kelvin Ho said that the organ transplant skill was already very advanced, yet the organ donation rate was still low. He hoped that the oral history book could increase awareness and knowledge of the readers on organ donation, which in turn help increase the organ donation rate.
(From left) Prof. Chan See-ching, Chiu Wan-Hoi, the first heart recipient in Hong Kong, and Dr. Chiu Shui-wah who took part in the first heart transplant operation in Hong Kong, discussed the difficulties and challenges they faced in organ donation and transplant.
Dr. Leong Che-hung, as the surgeon carrying out the first organ transplant operation in Hong Kong, extended gratitude to the organ donor and the family, the organ recipient and the medical team for their accomplishment in 1969, which started a new chapter in the history of organ transplant in Hong Kong.
Dr. Wong Man-kong, Professor of Department of History, HKBU, shared his expertise in using the oral history approach in illustrating the history of organ transplant and donation in Hong Kong.
