A DYING boy from Hunan has abandoned his plan to visit Hong Kong to thank donors for contributing to his medical treatment.

Huang Ge, 11, suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a fatal disease that results in the weakening and wasting of muscles.

After his plight was made public through the media five years ago, he received donations from 40 people around the country, including Hong Kong and Taiwan residents.

Huang and his father then set out a cross country journey on a converted motorcycle to thank donors. They have visited 63 cities so far.

But after waiting two weeks in Shenzhen for a Hong Kong visa, and failing to contact donors from the city, they have decided to give up.

The son said he had wanted to thank donor Ko Man-fong, who made a special trip to Changsha five years ago to give him HK$ 6,000.

But little Huang's father, Huang Xiaoyong, said the telephone number they had for Ko was no longer in service.

"She is why we want to go to Hong Kong. But now it appears it is not possible for us to meet and thank her. It is time for us to leave," the father said.

Editor: Wing