Suen to stay on despite chronic kidney failure

Suen to stay on despite chronic kidney failure

Natalie Wong

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Education chief Michael Suen Ming-yeung insists he will not resign after admitting he is suffering from chronic kidney failure and receives dialysis almost every night.
Suen, 67, is the fifth senior official to have suffered a major illness since 2009. He was diagnosed with the disease around November but only revealed it yesterday. Suen said he told Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen about his illness in late December.

Suen undergoes automated dialysis at home at night "when needed" and it does not affect his work, he said yesterday. He added that his health is now stable and he does not need a kidney transplant at this stage.

Suen said he "did not feel ill" during a four-day business trip to Vietnam and Brunei last week, even without dialysis. But he admitted: "I feel a bit fatigued as my blood sugar levels are low."

Suen, who also underwent a hernia operation earlier this year, stressed his health should allow him to finish the rest of the term, which will expire next June. If the workload gets too heavy, he will then decide whether to leave his post early.

He denied accusations of concealing his medical condition. Tsang said yesterday: "I have no doubt about the minister's ability and vigor to lead the Education Bureau."

But Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun- sun criticized the government for keeping the public in the dark about Suen's condition for so long.

Doctors advised Suen to cut his workload.

Gabriel Choi Kin, a nephrologist and president of the Hong Kong Medical Association, said patients who suffer from kidney failure and need dialysis every day may have their kidneys functioning at 10 percent or lower of a normal organ. Skipping the procedure for several days may affect his consciousness and decision-making.

Hong Kong Kidney Foundation chairman Lui Siu-fai said patients are usually attached to a machine for about eight hours overnight when performing automated peritoneal dialysis. Many find it convenient and manage to sleep quite well once they get used to it.

Alex Yu Wai-yin, a nephrologist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said peritoneal dialysis costs about HK$100,000 a year, and 3,416 people are currently receiving it all over Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union's president Fung Wai- wah said Suen often looked tired but still managed to express sharp views in meetings with the education sector during the year.

Suen joined the civil service at age 17 in 1966, and became secretary for education in 2007. Previously, he was secretary for housing, planning and lands.

Earlier this month Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung, 55, had heart surgery and Central Policy Unit chief Lau Siu-kai, 63, had a "preventive operation." Commerce secretary Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan, 57, resigned after colon cancer surgery last month while Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah underwent emergency balloon angioplasty in 2009.

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