On the island, there are men who have been ordered there by a court, checked in of their own volition or found out about the group by way of the centre's outreach programme.

Mamre Lilian Yeh is the centre's general secretary and daughter of the Reverend John Paul Chan, who founded Operation Dawn 41 years ago after seeing an addiction problem in Kowloon City.

'Our name came from the Bible - Romans 13:12,' Yeh said, showing the back of her business card, which reads: 'The night is nearly over, the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.'

The cost for the year-long programme is HK$2,500 a month, but most men do not have the money. The group helps many of the men apply for financial assistance. Those who cannot pay were admitted for free, Yeh said.

'Anybody who wants to come and is willing to change ... we take them, we admit them,' she said.

'We will find work for them and try to get them back into society.'

Along with Dawn Island and its halfway house, there is a rehabilitation centre for women in Tsing Yi.

Operation Dawn is seeking funding for its skills building and training programmes at all three sites. Money raised by Operation Santa Claus - which is organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK - will be used for lifeguard training sessions on Dawn Island, cake and baking lessons at its halfway house, and dance instruction at its women's and girls' centre.

The skills training would be used to build self-esteem and to teach students how to work together. The lessons could translate into future workplace skills, Yeh said.

The Post met four men on Dawn Island who have completed the lifeguard-training course.

So far, 34 people have participated, said Dawn Island counsellor Ken Cheung, 49, who oversees the programme, which started this year. Of the seven men who took the licensing exam, six passed it, Yeh added.

One of the men who participated was Kenny, 21, who now works for the centre. Kenny was sent to Dawn Island by the courts after he was charged with possessing ketamine, breaking a door while collecting a debt, plotting a robbery and assault.

Another man was Hai-fun, 23. He came to the island in March this year. Hai-fun was sniffing heroin, and decided to check himself in for the sake of his wife and child.

Then there was Bon, 35, who had been hooked on amphetamines and cough syrup. He signed himself up this year, too. Bon's brother died of an overdose, and Bon felt his own body getting weaker.

Finally, there was Vickman, 46, now an intern at the centre. Vickman was referred to Dawn Island by the courts in 2007. He had wandered into a local convenience store while high on a heroin mix and was arrested for stealing a packet of chocolates.

It was important to remember that drug addiction 'could happen to anyone', Yeh said. After people 'kick their habits, they are just as normal as you and I', she added.

'I hope the citizens of Hong Kong will learn to give them a chance, to accept them back into society, to give them jobs.'

Kenny was on the boat ride back to Sai Kung. Two years ago, he had four charges pending against him. Now he was leading the prayer for the return trip.

And when the boat docked and its passengers alighted, Kenny was there to lend them a hand.

You can help make a difference

How you can give

Donate online by credit card at osc.scmp.com

Donations can be made by ATM or at any HSBC branches: a/c number 502-676299-001 for SCMP CHARITIES LTD - OPERATION SANTA CLAUS

You can donate by cheque, payable to 'SCMP CHARITIES LTD - OPERATION SANTA CLAUS' and mailed to:

Operation Santa Claus, Morning Post Centre, 22 Dai Fat Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, New Territories, Hong Kong.

Donations of HK$100 or more are tax-deductible. If you'd like a tax receipt, please send the completed donation form and original bank receipt, with your name, address and phone number, to the address above