????HONG KONG, August 18 (ChinaMil) -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison organized the 18th free blood donation at the Gun Club Hill Barracks on August 17. 400 service members donated about 160,000 ml blood in total.

????More than 7,200 officers and soldiers of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison have donated around 3.22 million ml blood for Hong Kong residents since 1998.

????Since its stationing 18 years ago, the PLA Hong Kong Garrison has taken active part in public welfare activities, consciously safeguarded public interests, and made positive contributions to maintaining prosperity, stability and social harmony and development in Hong Kong.

????According to Mr. Philip W C Tsai, chairman of the Blood Transfusion Service Governing Committee of Hong Kong Red Cross, although medical technology has developed rapidly, blood for medical use in Hong Kong still depends on the donation from service members and residents. The PLA Hong Kong Garrison is the largest donating team in the past 18 years.

????It is learnt that to determine the officers and soldiers of blood donation, the medical unit of the garrison would first conduct a rigorous examination of the applicants' physical and blood condition to ensure that their blood meets relevant standards.