Time to put your hand in your pocket for Operation Santa Claus

Christmas trees and decorations are going up all over town, the festive season is on the way, and now is the time to share our goodwill with those less fortunate.

This year, Operation Santa Claus (OSC) is celebrating its 25th anniversary. For a quarter of a century, we have been partnering with the generous Hong Kong people to give to the needy.

The annual charity campaign, jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and Radio Television Hong Kong, with support from Hongkongers like you, has raised more than HK$100 million over the past 24 years.

This year's campaign will be launched on November 20, so it is time to get ready to dig into your piggy banks.

Each year, deserving causes are selected from various charitable organisations. The donations go to programmes to help the sick, the poor, the disabled, children and elderly people.

Over the years, the campaign has gone further afield to fund Hong Kong-based charities helping those outside the city to save the lives of mainland babies and enable rural children with facial deformities to have reconstructive surgery.