ENG-2015 — Page 185

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Health

Organ Donation and Transplant

The department promotes organ donation in various ways, including via a dedicated page on Facebook, in collaboration with the Hospital Authority, healthcare professional bodies and NGOs. As at the end of 2015, more than 188,000 people had registered with the Centralised Organ Donation Register to express their wish to donate their organs after death.

The number of patients waiting for kidney, liver, heart and double lung transplants stood at 1,941, 89, 36 and 16 respectively as at the end of 2015. During the year, there were 36 liver, 66 renal, 14 heart, 13 double-lung and 262 pieces of cornea donation from the deceased in public hospitals. There was no single-lung donation.

The Human Organ Transplant Ordinance regulates the transplant of human organs and import of human organs for transplant purposes, and prohibits commercial dealings in human organs intended for transplant. Approval from the statutory Human Organ Transplant Board is required for the transplant of human organs between living persons who are not genetically related or a couple whose marriage has subsisted for not more than three years. In 2015, the board received 21 applications for organ transplants between living non-related persons and Hong Kong imported 69 human organs for transplant purposes.

Under the ordinance, applications can be made to the department to exempt certain commercial products made from processed human tissue, enabling patients with genuine medical needs to benefit from the use of these products. As at the end of 2015, the department had received 39 applications for exemption and approved 33 products.

Smoking and Health

China is a state party to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health. Organisation, making provisions of the convention applicable to Hong Kong. The city's tobacco control policy aims to discourage smoking, contain the proliferation of tobacco use and minimise the impact from passive smoking through a progressive and multi-pronged approach, comprising legislation, publicity, education, enforcement, smoking cessation and taxation.

Legislation and Enforcement

The Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance stipulates statutory no-smoking areas and regulates the advertisement, promotion, packaging and labelling of tobacco products. Smoking is banned in all indoor areas of workplaces and public places, including restaurants and bars, as well as some outdoor areas, including the open areas of schools, leisure grounds, bathing beaches and public transport facilities. Offenders are liable to a fine of $1,500 under the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) Ordinance. All advertisements and promotions for tobacco products are prohibited.

In 2015, the department's Tobacco Control Office conducted more than 29,300 inspections and issued 163 summonses and 7,693 fixed penalty notices for smoking offences. It distributes health education materials, including guidelines, posters, no-smoking signs and pamphlets, to venue managers of statutory no-smoking areas and to the public.

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