Last year's total was HK$12.2 million. But there's still time to give. Fund-raising for Operation Santa Claus will continue until Sunday, with online donations also accepted at osc.scmp.com.

A few months ago when the decision was made to raise the fund-raising stakes by increasing the number of charities from 12 - as in the previous three years - to 27, it was seen as a challenge to the community's fund-raisers, schools, corporations and individual donors. Challenge met.

Timothy Teoh Sim-chuan, honorary executive administrator of the Lions Kidney Educational Centre and Research Foundation, said the amount raised so far was wonderful.

'It shows the community really supports the fund-raising,' Dr Teoh said. 'It shows there is a need for such a fund-raising campaign as this.'

Dr Teoh's foundation is seeking funding for three dialysis machines and hopes Operation Santa Claus can provide an extra one.

Bryan Curtis, head of RTHK's Radio 3 said he was pleased to see more corporations get involved with the charities. RTHK and the South China Morning Post co-organises the Operation Santa Claus campaign.

'There's been stronger contact from workers in corporations with the recipients,' Mr Curtis said. 'It's an aspect that has been more prevalent in this year's campaign. Several of the large companies want to go and see what their contribution is achieving.

'It's just a fantastic feeling to raise this amount of money for these charities.'

Fanny Fung, editor of the South China Morning Post, said she was delighted that the record had been broken.

'The fact that it has been a very good business year has obviously helped boost the fund-raising, as well as the huge donation of shares from Cathay Pacific,' she said. 'But, I think it is also about the caring community we live in, that people keep donating to causes they care about.'

Li Ip-ping, head of the Yan Oi Tong centre in Yuen Long where a new library will be built with the Operation Santa Claus money, said: 'Because that money goes to 27 charities, we can all carry out our projects and not worry about budgeting.

'I think there are a lot of kind people in Hong Kong who like to give and like to help.'

As well as the library, the money will help many of the city's elderly through the Sham Shui Po Community Association, the Hong Kong Alzheimer's Disease Association and Helping Hand.

'Wow! We are thrilled, we are extremely happy with the result and we are also happy to see that more people in our community are willing go give,' said Bella Luk, Helping Hand's executive director.

'On behalf of our elderly we'd like to say thank you very much to all those people who have supported Operation Santa Claus.'