Customs officer Yuen Wai-cheung, whose life was saved thanks to a liver transplant operation, and his courageous liver-donor colleague Simon Hui are both doing fine, according to the surgery conductor and families of the officers Friday.

"He opened his eyes once and showed certain reactions when I called him today. He faintly moved his head when I talked to him this morning. I feel extremely happy and hope he will return home soon," said Mrs Yuen. "I'm just too happy to talk at this moment."

Beyond this she refused to make the details of her "love meeting" public.

She, however, once again profusely thanked Simon Hui, the donor, for his extraordinary gesture, and the medical staff at Queen Mary Hospital for their competence and care.

"Yuen is in a very positive and stable recovering process at present. The transplanted liver is functioning well," said Professor Lo Chung-mau, the surgery conductor and head of the University of Hong Kong's liver transplant team at Queen Mary Hospital.

The doctor added that he doesn't worry about liver rejection on Yuen. However, since he had undergone operations before, he needs more medications and rest.

Meanwhile, the donor, Simon Hui, is also recovering steadily. "He can sit, he is in good spirit and his complexion is also good," said Simon Hui's elder sister in unconcealed delight. She also told the media that she is very proud of her younger brother's selflessness.

"The first thing he said after regaining consciousness was: 'How is Yuen?'," said Professor Lo, adding that he is a man of lofty ideals and possesses huge power to endure pain. He is being given liquid food.

Yuen, 39, hurt his silver when he fell against a roadside railing pole while chasing a suspect in Tseung Kwan O on October 28. Urgent liver donation appeal was sent out and 40-year-old Simon Hui responded on Thursday, as doctors predicted Yuen had only a few hours left.

Later that day, a team of surgeons performed a 13-hour operation to transplant 60 percent of Hui's right lever in Yuen's body.

Both men are known as efficient and honest customs officers. In a letter to Yuen, Chief Executive Donald Tsang described him as "a role model for civil servants". Many local residents on the other hand have crowned Hui "a hero of Hong Kong" on Facebook and online forums.

China Daily

(HK Edition 11/06/2010 page1)