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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) today (January 19) organised the Community Spring Blood Donation Campaign kick-off ceremony to recognise organisations with outstanding participation in blood donations last year and to appeal to the community to donate blood during Lunar New Year to ensure adequate blood supply.
Dr York Chow, Secretary for Food and Health, officiated at the ceremony. Dr Chow said that with the growth and ageing of the population, blood demand was forecast to increase by 25% in the coming 25 years. The BTS would need more people to take part in regular blood donation. Dr Chow appealed to the public to give blood during the festive period to help patients in need.
The organisations attending the ceremony all had outstanding records of participation in blood donation in the past year. They were: Kai Shing Management Services Limited (property management service sector), Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (banking sector), Manulife (International) Limited (insurance sector), Hong Kong Police Force (disciplinary force sector), Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (transportation sector), the Hospital Authority¡¯s New Territories East Cluster and Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (healthcare sector), Television Broadcasts Limited (media sector), Hong Kong Housing Authority (government department sector), PCCW (telecommunications sector) and Assembly of God Hebron Secondary School and Maryknoll College (Senior Form) (educational sector). In addition to receiving recognition, these organisations¡¯ representatives also joined Dr Chow to donate blood at the ceremony.
To show the appreciation of the BTS, donors giving blood during Lunar New Year will receive a small gift ¡ª a ¡°Sweet Fortune Bag¡± between today (January 19) and January 22 and a ¡°Fortunate Crystal Ball¡± between January 23 and February 6 (see photo attached) - while stocks last. All the blood donor centres have been decorated for Lunar New Year. The God of Fortune may also be there to wish blood donors ¡°Kung Hei Fat Choi¡±. Donors may also try the lucky wheel at the Kwun Tong Blood Donor Centre on January 28 to get an additional gift.
For the service hours of blood donor centres during the Lunar New Year holiday, the public can call the hotline at 2710 1234 or visit the BTS website at www.ha.org.hk/rcbts.
Ends/Monday, January 19, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:58
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