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- May 18, 2013
- Updated: 9:15pm
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Operation Santa Claus
Jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK since 1988, Operation Santa Claus is one of the largest charitable donation drives in Hong Kong. By November 2012, It had raised more than HK$170 million for over 150 charitable projects.
Operation Santa Claus: Early presents bring young patients smiles
It's not much fun being in hospital, especially when you're young and it's Christmas - so Santa was particularly welcome in Sandy Bay
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For children staying in hospital, the joy of Christmas is not just about the presents they receive but about spending time with the visitors who bring them.
The children at the Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital in Sandy Bay celebrated Christmas early yesterday, at an outdoor party where they were joined by staff from the financial services provider Macquarie Group.
The air was filled with laughter as many of the children jumped and danced to Christmas songs while others, some wearing arm slings and in wheelchairs, looked on.
Macquarie staff volunteers handed out presents to children, played games with them and visited others in the wards.
Jeffrey Shiu, Macquarie's head of equity in Hong Kong and China, who was playing the role of Santa Claus, said: "What touches me is meeting the children - some of whom are in bed and cannot move - and helping them smile and forget their pain.
"We're reminded that we're all very lucky to be healthy and able to work."
The party was organised by the Hong Kong Red Cross Hospital Schools, which provides education for children in hospitals.
Alan Chow Ping-kay, the chairman and supervisor of the organisation, said Macquarie's participation was a good example of how the commercial sector could take part in community work.
He said: "If it's just money donation, [donors] may not see who the people who need help are. Through taking part in events like this they, can experience the joy of helping." Chow, who used to be a prominent member of the financial sector before retiring, added that volunteer visits make children feel that they are loved and helped them in recovering.
The school is one of the 18 beneficiaries supported by Operation Santa Claus (OSC) this year. The holiday appeal is jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK.
It is the seventh year that Macquarie has raised funds for OSC through rallying the support of traders and business groups within Macquarie.
This year the institution raised HK$264,000, of which HK$207,000 was donated directly to the OSC and HK$57,000 was spent on toys at Toys 'R' Us, which provided discounted prices in support of OSC.
HOW YOU CAN GIVE
- Donate online by credit card at osc.scmp.com
- Donate at an ATM or at any HSBC branch (account no: 502-676299-001 for SCMP Charities Ltd - Operation Santa Claus)
- You can donate with a cheque payable to "SCMP Charities Ltd - Operation Santa Claus" and mail it to: Operation Santa Claus, Morning Post Centre, 22 Dai Fat Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, New Territories,
- Donations of HK$100 or more are tax-deductible. If you would like a tax receipt, please send the completed donation form and original bank receipt, with your name, address and phone number, to the above address. Please call 2680 8159 or e-mail osc@scmp.com with any inquiries, or visit us online at osc.scmp.com
