Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu speaks to the media ahead of an Executive Council meeting on June 6, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG – The chief executive of Hong Kong on Tuesday strongly condemned “despicable” act of intentionally damaging the city's organ donation register, a day after police had arrested four men in connection with this.

Addressing the media ahead of weekly Executive Council meeting, John Lee Ka-chiu said the offenders were suspected of “access to computer with criminal or dishonest intent”.

“With the use of information obtained from doxing acts, these individuals applied with the organ donation register to withdraw from the registration. We condemn the acts which have undermined the noble cause (of organ donation). In a recent incident, about 3,000 applications of organ donation were canceled or repeatedly registered,” he said.

“Their acts are not different from rioters' in the 2019 ‘black-clad’ violence and the Hong Kong-version color revolution. They used various excuses to spread rumors and misinformation on the internet to incite hatred and cause disruption.”

He believed that they were only a handful of the black sheep in society, stressing that members of society should condemn the “despicable” behavior. 

With the use of information obtained from doxing acts, these individuals applied with the organ donation register to withdraw from the registration. We condemn the acts which has undermined the noble cause (of organ donation). In a recent incident, about 3,000 applications of organ donation were canceled or repeatedly registered.

John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive

The government would hold them accountable according to the law, he added.

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The CE reiterated that the purpose of organ donation was to save lives, adding that the number of registration for the donation increased from nearly 45,000 in 2009 to more than 350,000 currently. 

The figures had shown residents’ support for the selfless and noble cause of organ donation, he added.

The government would continue to discuss with the Chinese mainland to establish a regular cross-boundary organ transplant mutual assistance mechanism, which would prioritize local patients with organs donated from the city, said the Hong Kong leader.

“Only when no suitable local patients were identified, will the mechanism kick-start so that the donated organs will go to mainland patients and will not be wasted.”

There was a recent case where a local child had been saved by an organ from the mainland, he pointed out, adding that the government would adopt a multi-pronged approach to step up publicity work for the mechanism in a bid to help more patients with life-saving organs.

Asked about the ruling of the Court of Final Appeal over a vehicle license plate search for an investigation, the CE said Hong Kong was governed by rule of law and the government respected the ruling.

“This ruling has highlighted fairness in our judicial system,” Lee said.

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The Transport and Logistics Bureau would study the judgment with the Department of Justice to improve the procedures and guidelines for applying for the certificate of vehicle particulars, he added.