Sharing sessions, impromptu dancing in the streets and a whole lot of hugging - Po Po is here. But what on earth is it? Comprising a song, a dance and a series of performances, the message of Po Po is simple. 'Literally, Po Po means to hug or embrace,' says organiser Yvonne Siet. 'When asked about it, I don't explain - I just do it and then people know what we're talking about.' Co-organiser Elvin Wong Chi-chung, a Hong Kong music educator, says: 'It's a physical act, though it has wider connotations - of embracing people, music and the world. It's infectious and organic. It's a new philosophy and social movement which encourages the public just to be nicer to each other.' 'I think most people here are quite conservative about showing their love for others,' says singer Stephanie Cheng Yung. 'However, after promoting the Po Po culture, hopefully our society will be less uptight about showing their love and caring for one another.' Presented by Now.com.hk and Cathay Pacific, the Po Po campaign is designed to break the divide between music, fans and artists. 'It's about letting your guard down,' says Siet. 'Putting down star status and sharing love.' At the centre of the campaign is the Po Po song. 'We wanted to do a non-traditional Canto-pop song,' says Wong. 'So, we added a Latin element.' 'We describe the single as a salsa-Canto-rap song,' Siet says. 'We invited [Venezuelan salsa artist] Victor Hugo to write the music for the song. He's a walking encyclopedia of the Latin music world.' The Po Po crew travelled to Britain to record the single at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studio. Among those who made the trip were actor Ekin Cheng Yee-kin, singer-songwriter Chet Lam Yat-fung, hip-hop outfit Superthugz, at17 and inLove. 'It was like recruiting for a summer camp, as we would all be working, eating and living together,' says Wong. The Po Po experience goes beyond the song and includes a dance created by the US West Coast Salsa Congress. 'Albert and Maya Torres [founders of the Congress] were really into what we were trying to do, and choreographed the Po Po dance for us,' says Siet. The final Po Po event of the year in Hong Kong, Embrace the World at Christmas - featuring Hugo and his band, The Mambo Boyz, as well as local stars Gigi Leung Wing-kei and Denise Ho Wan-sze, among others - will be held at Times Square on Wednesday. A Christmas version of the Po Po song will also be unveiled, and all proceeds will go to the Wheelchair Bank. While in Britain, 'sharing sessions' were part of the itinerary. 'Every evening, we would have a sharing session,' says Siet. 'We turned off the lights and allowed people to talk about how they felt to the whole group. People quickly became less inhibited, and there was no pretence. It was very liberating.' Throughout the trip, the 50-strong group broke out into impromptu performances. From Bath Cathedral to Leicester Square, the team would present the Po Po song and dance to the public. 'The group would never know when I would tell them to perform on the streets,' says Siet. 'We'd just do it when we felt like it and the response was great. 'For many, the stereotype of Chinese people is that they're reserved. We definitely showed a different side.' A book and VCD recording the trip and associated activities is out now. 'This has made me realise that it really doesn't take much effort to make people happy by just greeting them or simply giving them a warm hug,' says Cheng. Embrace the World at Christmas, Wed, 6.30-8.30pm, Times Square, free. Inquiries: 2747 5211.