Surpassing the total of the past five months, the public in Hong Kong has expressed a soft protest against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through a significant increase in organ donation cancellations. In a press release on July 5, the Hong Kong government announced that nearly 6,000 cancellations had been made in the month of May alone, sparking discussions and raising concerns about the sudden surge in cancellations.
According to the government’s press releases, a total of 28,000 applications to cancel organ donation registrations were received by the Centralized Organ Donation Register (CODR) in May. Out of these, 21,600 applications from unregistered applicants or those who had failed the identity verification process were considered invalid. The remaining 6,400 cancellations were not further elaborated upon by the government, but they did confirm that there were 5,816 valid cancellations in May.
In response to the cancellations, the Hong Kong government, including Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu, publicly condemned individuals who questioned Hong Kong’s dialogue with mainland China on establishing a permanent organ transplant cooperation mechanism. They also criticized those who had never applied for registration but were attempting to withdraw or cancel their registration.
On June 5, police arrested four local men for attempting to disrupt the registration process through fraudulent means, including submitting false registration cancellations using the personal information of others. The suspects, who targeted current and former government officials, Legislative Council members, and artists, were accused of engaging in “mischievous” activities, and additional arrests were not ruled out.
Within this context, the discussion revolving around the establishment of a permanent organ transplant collaboration mechanism with China has raised concerns among experts and organizations. Many worry about the legitimacy and ethicality of organ sources, particularly in light of China’s well-documented history of organ harvesting practices.
The Secretary for Health, Mr. Lo Chung-mau, has been advocating for Hong Kong’s inclusion in the China Organ Transplant Response System (COTRS) since the first organ transplant from China for a 4-month-old baby girl in Hong Kong in December 2022. This push for collaboration has drawn international attention, with many expressing reservations about the potential risks and implications involved.
Mr. Alex Lam Chi-yau, chairman of the Hong Kong Patients’ Voices, voiced concerns about the establishment of a permanent mechanism, suggesting that it might lead to donors withdrawing from the CODR if they feel uncomfortable sending their organs to mainland China. Similarly, in an interview program on Radio Free Asia, a former Hong Kong doctor expressed distrust of China’s organ donation system, warning that integration with the mainland mechanism could make Hong Kong complicit in China’s illicit organ trading system.
Dr. Jacob Lavee, a renowned Israeli heart transplant surgeon and former chairman of the Israeli Transplantation Society, expressed concerns about the situation in Hong Kong. He emphasized the need for Western countries to unite their efforts to combat live organ harvesting and put an end to Hong Kong’s use of harvested human organs.
The issue of organ harvesting in China gained international attention in 2006, with subsequent investigations confirming its existence. Prominent human rights lawyer David Matas, who served as a joint investigator and co-author of reports on organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners, emphasized that the problem lies not in the lack of evidence but rather in its excess. To address the issue, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023” in March, awaiting approval by the U.S. Senate and the President.
In the midst of these concerns and allegations, Hong Kong citizens have voiced their doubts about the organ transplant system. Some have cited cases of suspicious disappearances or premature cremations in mainland China, leading to skepticism about the transparency and effectiveness of the current system in Hong Kong. Many believe that significant improvements are necessary to restore confidence and address the concerns raised by the public.
In conclusion, the significant increase in organ donation cancellations in Hong Kong is seen as a soft protest against the CCP’s organ harvesting practices. The push for a permanent organ transplant collaboration with China has raised valid concerns about the legitimacy and ethicality of organ sources. As the discussion continues, citizens and experts alike emphasize the need for transparency, accountability, and measures that ensure the protection of human rights in the organ transplant system.
Source link
