Supplementary to Question No. 10. in LegCo meeting on 14.1.87.
Dr. LAM (in Cantonese): Sir, would the Government tolerate'
commercial activities arising from IVF for instance, the
and
buying
and selling of embryos and surrogate motherhood/so on. If the
answer is "no" should we not take preventive measures at an early
stage ?
Secretary for Health and Welfare: Sir, the question of commercial
surrogacy is one of the most serious of the ethical and social
there is questions which this technology is likely to pose. If any indication
that this was likely to develop, I think we would have to take very
early action.
Miss DUNN: Sir, wouldn't it be prudent for the Government at this
early stage to establish its position and some guidelines on these
rather complex issues, such as the storage, treatment and disposal
of embryos before the problems arise ?
Secretary for Health and Welfare: Sir, the storage, treatment and
disposal of embryos will be part of the guidelines which I referred
and to which are in an advanced stage, SO we will be taking action
on this particular aspect very soon.
Mr. Martin LEE: Sir, how are the "cultural characteristics and
the family concepts" of people in Hong Kong different from the people
in the other parts of the world as would justify the deferment
of consideration of these obvious though complex questions ?