There wasn't a reindeer in sight as Santa Claus and his leather-clad helpers spread some Christmas cheer yesterday, Harley-Davidson style.
Bikers from the Mad Dogs Motorcycle Club, the V-Twin Club, Hong Kong Superbike Club, the Classic Bike Club of Hong Kong, and the American Cruiser Club were on a toy run to deliver presents to the Youth Outreach home in Shau Kei Wan run by Father Peter Newbury. At the same time they were passing round Santa hats and the occasional motorbike helmet for Operation Santa Claus.
Thirty bikes, mostly Harleys, converged on the Star Ferry piazza in Central and parked in a row on Queen's Pier.
Santa, alias Man Chi-cheong, alias The Big Man, had garaged his sleigh for the day, instead helping children aboard his purple Harley for photographs. Even bride Esther Choi Po-ching and groom Chu Kwok-fai, fresh from their City Hall nuptials in their wedding finery, took the opportunity for a photo shoot with Santa.
Robert Carmichael, vice-president of the Mad Dogs Motorcycle Club, said toy runs to deliver gifts to needy children were a tradition for motorcycle clubs in western countries. 'The V-Twin Club has already collected $20,000 before today to go to Operation Santa Claus,' said the Scotsman.