The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Richard Yuen, today (November 4) visited Customs Officer, Mr Yuen Wai-cheung, who has undergone a successful liver transplant operation after receiving a liver donation from his colleague. Mr Richard Yuen expressed deep gratitude to the liver donor, who is also a Customs colleague, for his selfless, benevolent and charitable act and he wished both officers a full and speedy recovery.
Mr Yuen also gave his thanks to colleagues in the Department and the Civil Service, and members of the public who had responded to the Department's urgent appeal for liver donation.
"We are most encouraged and grateful that more than 70 colleagues from the Customs and other government departments and members of the public had responded to our appeal in the last two days. The strong response has not only reflected the solid team spirit of the Civil Service, it is also a manifestation of the positive attitude towards organ donation in our community and the recognition by the public of the work of the Civil Service and the challenge and danger faced by the disciplined services," he said.
Mr Yuen also gave thanks and expressed his deep appreciation of the care and excellent support provided to the two officers by the Hospital Authority, United Christian Hospital, Queen Mary Hospital and especially Professor C.M. Lo, Chair Professor, Department of Surgery of Queen Mary Hospital and his elite medical team who performed the liver transplant operation.
The donor, male, aged 40, is a Customs colleague of inspectorate rank and serving in the Airport Command.
The injured Customs officer, Mr Yuen Wai-cheung, suffered severe injuries on his liver while on duty during an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Tseung Kwan O on October 28. Following an urgent appeal for a liver donation, a suitable donor was identified yesterday and the liver transplant operation was immediately carried out.
Ends/Thursday, November 4, 2010