The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today expressed sincere gratitude to the central government and relevant Mainland authorities for their strong support and co-operation regarding a Mainland organ donation case that enabled the Hong Kong medical team to successfully save the life of a baby girl who was in urgent need of a heart transplant in the city.

The Hong Kong SAR Government explained that a four-month-old baby girl in Hong Kong, Tsz-hei, suffered from heart failure earlier due to dilated cardiomyopathy and was urgently in need of a heart transplant to save her life.

Although arrangements had been made for Tsz-hei to wait for a heart transplant on the Hong Kong Human Organ Waiting List, no suitable donor had been found in Hong Kong so far due to her very young age.

In the light of her urgent situation, the Hong Kong SAR Government sought permission and assistance from the central government to co-ordinate organ sharing for saving Tsz-hei in case there is a brain-dead donor who meets the relevant clinical need and no suitable recipients were identified in the Mainland.

Upon receiving the Hong Kong SAR Government’s request, the central government, in conjunction with the National Health Commission (NHC) and other relevant Mainland authorities, immediately established an interdepartmental co-ordination centre with Hong Kong through the China Organ Transplant Response System (COTRS) to formulate an emergency response plan.

The national human organ donation network has made remarkable achievements in recent years and was highly recognised by the World Health Organization. Through COTRS, Chinese citizens, including permanent residents of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, could now benefit from fair and equitable organ distribution and sharing.

Yesterday, a brain-dead child patient in the Mainland donated his heart selflessly. After several rounds of automatic matching by the COTRS across the country, it was confirmed that there was no suitable recipient for the heart in the Mainland.

In view of the request from the Hong Kong SAR Government, an ad-hoc plan on human organ sharing for a medical emergency rescue between the Mainland and Hong Kong was urgently activated.

With the strong support and co-operation from the NHC, the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the General Administration of Customs and relevant Mainland authorities, approvals for the plan were secured within a very short period of time.

As a result, the Mainland hospital immediately arranged an operation and the organ was procured and transported to Hong Kong urgently.

With respect to Hong Kong, the Hospital Authority had submitted the relevant certificate for the import of the organ in accordance with the laws on human organ transplant, and the relevant certificate has been acknowledged by the Human Organ Transplant Board according to the established mechanism.

The authority also confirmed that the organ transplant complied with international standards and the relevant requirements of the ordinance.

After confirming that all procedures were in compliance with relevant laws and regulations, the medical team of Hong Kong Children’s Hospital then immediately arranged and completed the operation last night, successfully saving Tsz-hei’s life.

The Hong Kong SAR Government sincerely thanked the country for its care and support for the lives and health of Hong Kong citizens. It said such co-operation perfectly exemplified that both the Mainland and Hong Kong share the principle and mission of protecting lives, which is of great significance.

It once again thanked the various Mainland authorities for their concern for Hong Kong citizens and wished Tsz-hei a speedy recovery.