Sponsor spreads Christmas magic for disabled pupils

A school on a quiet hillside in East Kowloon became a noisy place of laughter and joy as 300 people gathered for a huge party for pupils, parents and alumni.

Hong Kong Red Cross Margaret Trench School in Wong Tai Sin, a special school serving primary and secondary children with severe disabilities, held its annual Christmas gathering last weekend.

Thanks to sponsorship from leisure and entertainment company Melco Group, the scale of the party had grown appreciably. Gifts, games, shows and food all made for an unforgettable day.

"For the past two nights my son couldn't get to sleep until 4am because of the excitement, mostly about the food," said the mother of pupil Lung Kin, who has cerebral palsy.

"I love to eat chicken with Coke," the 19-year-old boy added, with a big smile.

For Belinda Chow, also 19, the gifts and prizes from the games were the big draw. "I like the balloons," said Chow, who has attention deficit disorder.