OBJECTIVES: To investigate Hong Kong couples' attitudes and concerns about using 
preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and human leukocyte antigens (HLA) 
typing to conceive a disease-free and tissue-compatible 'Saviour Child (SC)' to 
save an afflicted sibling.
METHODS: Two cohorts of Chinese couples, one with natural pregnancies and the 
other receiving in vitro fertilization (IVF) services, were studied using a 
structured questionnaire.
RESULTS: Although most couples believed that embryos possess moral rights, they 
considered it acceptable to reproduce a donor child if it was safe for the 
child, and tissue transplantation was the only available treatment for the sick 
sibling. Most couples believed that the donor child would not suffer adverse 
physical or psychological effects but rather would gain positive psychological 
benefits, and opined that parents using PGD/HLA-typing suffer sacrificially for 
their children. In response to one specific question, one-third of the couples 
agreed to use the donor child as a lifetime organ donor and supported the use of 
PGD for non-medical gender selection. One-quarter were willing to reject 
PGD/HLA-typing because of its potential for non-medical genetic enhancement.
CONCLUSION: Probably influenced by the Chinese tradition of strong familism, 
couples in Hong Kong generally show positive attitudes towards using 
PGD/HLA-typing to reproduce a 'SC' to save a sibling affected with 
life-threatening diseases amenable to treatment with genetically compatible 
tissue.