XN000022-1992-12-16 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1992

MR LEUNG SAID RESIDENTS MIGHT CHANGE THE OPERATOR IF THEY WERE DISSATISFIED WITH EITHER THE FARES OR THE QUALITY OF SERVICE PROVIDED.

"FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE LICENSING CONDITIONS MAY ALSO RESULT IN SUSPENSION OR NON-RENEWAL OF THE LICENCE,' HE ADDED.

CHANGE TO PUBLIC ATTITUDE TOWARDS ORGAN DONATION NEEDED

* *

MORE THAN THREE MILLION ORGAN DONATION CARDS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED SINCE EASTER THIS YEAR THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY AT DISTRICT OFFICES, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, HOSPITALS AND CLINICS, BANKS, DEPARTMENT STORES AND SUPERMARKETS, OR WHENEVER ANY COMMUNITY GROUP REQUESTS THEM.

INDIVIDUAL CARDS HAVE ALSO BEEN ADDRESSED TO HOUSING AUTHORITY TENANTS AND VIA THE RATING BILLS TO PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS.

REPLYING ΤΟ A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HUANG CHEN-YA IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID IN PROMOTING COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF ORGAN DONATION, THE GOVERNMENT HAD MOUNTED A MAJOR PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THIS YEAR.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS ALSO LAUNCHED A MULTI-MEDIA EFFORT INVOLVING NO LESS THAN 10 CAMPAIGNS AND PUBLICITY DRIVES IN CO-OPERATION WITH PROFESSIONAL BODIES, PUBLIC UTILITIES, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

IN ADDITION, THE DEPARTMENT'S CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT HOLDS TALKS AND PROVIDES EXHIBITS TO COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AND OPERATES A 24-HOUR HOTLINE TO OFFER INFORMATION ON ORGAN DONATION.

"INDEED,

T

OUR PAST EFFORTS ARE SHOWING SOME POSITIVE RESULTS, MRS WONG SAID. "FOR EXAMPLE, IN 1989, FOR EVERY 10 POTENTIAL DONORS WE APPROACHED, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING ONLY ONE DONOR.

H THIS YEAR,

WE HAVE IMPROVED THE RATE TO ONE IN THREE. THIS IS STILL NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

BUT

**

"WR BELIEVE THE ANSWER LIES IN PUBLIC EDUCAT LON AND IN ATTITUDE CHANGE, MRS WONG SAID, ADDING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD INTENSIFY ITS EFFORTS IN CONCERT WITH CONCERNED GROUPS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS.

ON WHETHER LEGISLATIVE MEASURES WILL BE INTRODUCED TO MEET THE NEED FOR A READY SUPPLY OF TRANSPLANT ORGANS, MRS WONG TOLD COUNCILLORS THAT THE MEDICAL (THERAPY, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH) ORDINANCE ALREADY PROVIDED FOR THE REMOVAL OF A PERSON'S ORGANS TO BE USED FOR TRANSPLANT AFTER HIS DEATH UNDER PRESCRIBED CIRCUMSTANCES.

/"IN BRIEF