Hong Kong: Red Cross Guidelines for Prospective Donors Contested

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Hong Kong: Red Cross Guidelines for Prospective Donors Contested
05/30/1999

At the request of the Allied Front Concerned for the Hong Kong Red Cross "Guidelines for Prospective Donors", the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) is forwarding the following Action Alert.

If you have any questions, please contact Noel Chen by phone at (852) 8108-1069 or by e-mail at: TOMMYjai@HKnet.com

You are invited to join the Allied Front Concerned for the Hong Kong Red Cross "Guidelines for Prospective Donors"

Dear Friends,

When we donate blood at the Hong Kong Red Cross, we would be asked to read the "Guidelines for Prospective Donors", the purpose of which is to ensure that the donated blood is safe for the donees. Unfortunately, due to the misinterpretations of the Hong Kong Red Cross on how diseases are spread, they have set the wrong standards, and as a result the "Guidelines" cannot ensure the blood donees' safety, but the "Guidelines" will perpetuate the prejudices set on the minority groups in the society.

The "Guidelines for Prospective Donors" contains as follows:

You should NEVER give blood if:

You have been paid for sex.

You are a man who has had sex with another man.

You have ever injected yourself with drugs.

You should not give blood FOR A YEAR after sex with:

A prostitute.

A man who has had sex with another man (if you are a female).

Anyone who has injected themselves with drugs.

It is significant that the letterhead of the "Guidelines" carries the logos of the "Hong Kong Red Cross" and the "Hong Kong Hospital Authority", upon which the public often look up to as the medical authorities in Hong Kong. Hence, by distributing these guidelines to the public, they educate the public every day with following message:"People with a particular profession or particular lifestyle always have a higher risk of contracting viral disease", instead of addressing how diseases are spread.

We would not let them distort the truth, and discriminate the minorities continuously.

We sincerely ask for your support by signing the enclosed joint letter to the Hong Kong Red Cross for a demand of amendment of the "Guidelines".

Regards,
Draft Committee for Requesting Amendments to "Guidelines for Prospective Donors" of the Hong Kong Red Cross

For enquiries, please contact:
Noel Chen (Tommy) at phone/fax (852)8108-1069,

Please send you signed letter to:
Noel Chen (Tommy) Phone: (852)8108-1069, Fax: (852)8108-1069,
Or mail to:

Noel Chen
Box 28093, Gloucester Road Post Office
Hong Kong

Request of Amendment to the "Guidelines for Prospective Donors"

To: Hong Kong Red Cross
Date: ________, 1999

Dear Sir/Madam,

People who donate blood at the Hong Kong Red Cross would be asked to read the "Guidelines for Prospective Donors", the purpose of which is to ensure that the donated blood is safe for the donees. Unfortunately,

You set the wrong standards for ensuring the safety of the blood donees due to misinterpretations on the contagious diseases, and

You have prejudiced against the minority groups in the society seriously.

We understand that the spread of Hepatitis and AIDS has no relation to the gender of one's sex partner or whether the sex relation involves pecuniary interest. Apart from those who know or suspect they have contracted contagious disease, whom the Hong Kong Red Cross should refuse for blood donation are those who have had unsafe sex or those who have shared needles for drug injection within 3 months of blood donation. You should not discriminate people on the basis of profession, male homosexual acts, or whether they have had injection of drugs.

Your wrongly set standards would allow accepting blood donation from those contagious persons who are not listed in the guidelines, who will continue to donate blood thinking they are safe. On the other hand, male homosexuals, sex workers, and those who have had drug injections, but who have never practiced unsafe sex or shared needles, would be deprived of the right of blood donation. The "Guidelines" further reinforces society's long-standing prejudices cast on these groups of people.

For public interest and to really protect those receiving blood or blood products, please amend the contents of the "Guidelines: and reset the standards based on the means of contracting contagious disease.

Suggestions for amendment:

A. Delete:

You should NEVER give blood if you have ever been paid for sex.

You should not give blood FOR A YEAR after sex with a prostitute.

You should NEVER give blood if you are a man who has had sex with another man.

You should not give blood FOR A YEAR after sex with a man who has had sex with a man(if you are female).

B. Add:

You should NEVER give blood if you have practiced unsafe sex within the past three months. (Exact wordings can be determined).

C. Amend:

You should NEVER give blood if you have ever injected yourself with drugs.

You should NEVER give blood if you have shared needles with others for drug injection within the past three months.

We would be most grateful if you can reply to us within one month.

Regards
Allied Front Concerned for the Hong Kong
Red Cross's "Guidelines for Prospective Donors"

Signature:_____________________________
Name/Organization:_____________________
Contact Method:________________________

cc. Hong Kong Hospital Authority

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