Hospital Authority appeals to public for baby requiring urgent heart transplant
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) made the following appeal today (October 11) regarding the condition of a patient who requires urgent heart transplant.
A 3-month-old baby girl who requires urgent heart transplant is currently in critical condition at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Hong Kong Children's Hospital. In response to an urgent appeal from her parents, the HA appeals to members of the public to actively support organ donations and consider donating the heart of deceased relatives to give new life to others.
Given the critical condition of the patient, in addition to proactively searching for a suitable heart locally, the HA will also seek assistance from the Mainland through relevant procedures as soon as possible. When a patient willing to donate an organ has passed away and no suitable patient is identified on the Mainland, the cross-boundary organ donation and matching mechanism will facilitate a transplant in Hong Kong to bring hope to a critically ill patient.
The spokesperson emphasised that when a suitable heart is found, the HA will strictly follow the relevant organ transplant regulations and make an application with the authorities to ensure that all procedures comply with relevant standards and regulatory requirements. The HA will arrange transplant operations with an aim to save the patient's life as soon as possible.
For critically ill patients with organ failure, an organ transplant is often the only hope for extending life. When deceased patients and their families make the selfless decision to donate organs for patients in need of organ transplantation, it not only gives critically ill patients the hope of life but also eases their families' hardships. The HA appeals to the public to extend their compassion, blessings, and care to those still fighting for their lives.
TD urges public and motorists returning to Hong Kong to travel outside peak periods as far as possible
The Transport Department (TD) today (October 12) urged members of the public who drive their private cars to and from the Mainland/Macao to note that it is anticipated more inbound cross boundary vehicles will travel via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) tomorrow (October 13). Members of the public are advised to plan their journeys ahead and travel outside peak periods as far as possible in response to the inbound travel peak after Chung Yeung Festival.
The public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile application to access the snapshots of traffic conditions at the inbound and outbound vehicle plaza of HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check the real time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of HZMB Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts (or visit traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/).
The TD has worked with relevant Mainland authorities and operators to formulate plans to strengthen services at various ports, including increasing the frequency of the HZMB shuttle bus (Gold Bus) and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus), as well as arranging dedicated public transport lanes at the HZMB Port, Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port and Shenzhen Bay Port as necessary, with a view to ensuring smooth public transport operations. Subject to actual traffic conditions, special traffic arrangements may be implemented at Lok Ma Chau Control Point and Shenzhen Bay Port to facilitate public transport vehicles to enter the above control points smoothly. Motorists are advised to pay special attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the road.
In addition, the TD has approached various public transport operators proactively to enhance the capacity, and reserve vehicles and manpower to meet the travel needs of visitors. Among them, the MTR will enhance train service of railway lines (including East Rail Line) until October 13, with a total of about 950 extra trips, so as to facilitate the travelling of local residents and visitors.
The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates 24 hours to closely monitor the traffic and transport situation of various districts, boundary control points and major stations, and implement response measures where appropriate. Members of the public are advised to keep in view the latest traffic news through radio, television broadcasts and the TD's HKeMobility mobile application.
