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SCMP Reporter

KPS Video Express has broken its own record for the biggest single donation to Operation Santa Claus, bringing in $500,000.

 The video chain raised more than $472,000 on Christmas Day by renting its videos at $8 a tape instead of the usual $24. Another $14,220 was collected from donation boxes in the stores.

 KPS, last year's largest donor to the charity, decided to make a further donation of almost $14,000 to bring the figure up to $500,000, smashing last year's record of $430,000.

 The company's operations director, John Parker, was thrilled with the record and pleased to have won the support of the customers.

 'Our staff have been motivated to get the customers to donate. Fifty per cent of our customers who came in our shops on Christmas Day made donations,' said Mr Parker.

 The big new store in Mei Foo received a good response, and one of its customers, Hui Yuk-fung, gave $13,000, making him the day's largest donor.

 Another customer Chu Yiu Lam-fung donated $10,000 and the firm Kong Min Piece Good Ltd, gave $5,200 making them the second and third biggest donors.

 Yesterday, Sheila Twinn earned an extra New Year gift thanks to her constant support for Operation Santa Claus.

 Ms Twinn, a lecturer at the Chinese University, won the United Airlines lucky draw and received a return connoisseur ticket to New York.

 'I have been in Hong Kong for three years and have donated to Operation Santa Claus for three years. This is the first time I have won a lucky draw,' said Ms Twinn, who gave a $500 cheque.

 She said she would have continued supporting the charity whether she won or not.

 Operation Santa Claus, a joint effort between the South China Morning Post and RTHK Radio, ends today. But money and cheques will keep rolling in and many companies are counting their figures.

 Esprit, which has pledged to donate $1 for every garment sold during the month, has raised $130,000.

 Carol singers at the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation have raised $10,000, with more to come.

 The Beach Resort Hotel in Sai Kung held a special Christmas Eve party with the help of the bands Squid and Vagabond and raised $32,000. Collection boxes are still out at the hotel.

 People who want to help Youth Outreach in its work with runaway children and Sowers Action to send children on the mainland to school are welcome to send in cheques. The charity's bank account stays open until mid-January.

  CHEQUES should be made payable to Operation Santa Claus 1995 and sent to Operation Santa, PO Box 70200, Kowloon Central Post Office. Donations can also be dropped in collection boxes at the following locations: Urban Properties at City One, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Park Lane Shoppers Boulevard, all KPS, Esprit and Body Shop stores, The Godown, Conrad Hotel, Carnegies, Ritz-Carlton Hotel,  Furama Hotel, Holiday Inn Golden Mile, Mad Dogs in Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, Joe Bananas, Ali Oli Delicatessen and Pepperoni's at Sai Kung, KHF & Associates in Cheung Chau, all Espresso Americano stores, the Bull and Bear pub in Central, the Beach Resort Hotel in Sai Kung, Al's Diner, Oscar's, Post 1997, Va Bene, Hanagushi, Beirut, Uncle Russ, Tokio Joe, California, Top Dog and Petticoat Lane.



KPS has charity record taped