TNAG-1724-FCO40-2437-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 1

DR. CHIU: Sir, will the Government inform this Council

of the percentage of contaminated blood collected in

in the

last 12 months and whether it will advise the Red Cross to

make it a practice to issue referral notes to donors whose

blood is rejected owing to certain diseases So that they

can seek medical treatment right away?

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE : Yes, Sir, I am told

that during 1987, 155,000 units of blood were tested by the

Blood Transfusion Service and hepatitis B was found to be

present in 3.5 per cent of these and the figures for

syphilis and AIDS were 0.05 per cent and 0.0013 per cent

respectively. Where a donor's blood is found to be

infected in this way, the blood is discarded. The donor

is told confidentially about what has been discovered and

he is also offered medical advice

referred if he is willing to do so.

and

counselling and