RUNAWAY children and pupils in China are set to receive a festive boost from Operation Santa Claus after the annual campaign kicked off its fund-raising season last night.
Lavender Patten was among the well-wishers who launched the month-long drive, run jointly by the South China Morning Post and RTHK Radio 3 to raise money for charities.
This year's donations will go to Youth Outreach and Sowers Action.
Youth Outreach will use its share to fund crisis intervention for runaways and their families. Sowers Action will use the funds in its work improving children's education in China.
Fund-raising activities will be held throughout the territory at schools, shopping centres and public transport stops. Corporate donations will be sought.
Christmas lights at Tsim Sha Tsui's Park Lane Boulevard were switched on in a ceremony marking the launch, as shoppers posed to have their photographs taken with Santa Claus.
As many as 20,000 youngsters run away from home each year. Some children as young as nine are found living on the streets.
