Transcript of remarks by S for Health at media session
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Reporter: Secretary, what is your thinking of the possible review of the current register for future recruitments? And also how likely the Government will consider allowing donors to opt out from the second tier of the donation scheme?
Secretary for Health: About the registry, we have a lot to improve. The registry was originally developed without any legal power. Basically, the registration is entirely voluntary. The information will not actually have any legal implication, in the sense that those who have registered may not necessarily eventually donate their organs. On the other hand, for many people who have not registered, finally the family decided to donate their organs. But unfortunately, we now have a small number of people with ill intention to attack the system and try to create the sentiment that they are exaggerating the number of people who want to withdraw from this, who don't support this cross-boundary collaboration in organ transplant. We condemn any of this action of putting up fake information in the media to try to misguide our citizens to withdraw from the registry. We also condemn the action of trying to exaggerate the number of withdrawal in order to destroy our organ donation sentiment and the atmosphere for promoting organ donation.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, May 25, 2023
Issued at HKT 12:55
Issued at HKT 12:55
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