Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has issued an urgent appeal for organ donation to save a six-month-old baby boy who needs a heart transplant.

The baby is currently in critical condition in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of Hong Kong Children’s Hospital.

Responding to an urgent plea from his parents, the Hospital Authority urged the public to consider donating the heart of a deceased loved one to give the infant a chance at new life.

The Hospital Authority said it is not only actively searching for a suitable heart locally, but will also seek assistance from the Chinese mainland through established procedures as soon as possible.

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Under the existing cross-boundary organ donation and matching mechanism, when a willing donor has passed away and no suitable recipient is identified on the mainland, organs can be matched and allocated to Hong Kong, providing a vital lifeline to critically ill patients.

Once a suitable heart is found, the Hospital will strictly follow relevant organ transplant regulations and submit an application to the authorities to ensure that all procedures comply with required standards and regulatory requirements, a spokesperson for the authority said in a statement.

Ching Ching’s ongoing struggle

Meanwhile, 13-year-old girl Ching Ching, whose parents made public appeals earlier, remains in critical condition at the same hospital, still waiting for a heart and lung donation.

“For critically ill patients with organ failure, an organ transplant is often the only hope for extending life,” reads the Hospital Authority statement.

“When deceased patients and their families make the selfless decision to donate organs for patients in need of organ transplantation, it not only gives critically ill patients the hope of life but also eases their families' hardships.”