'To do some charity to help others is the spirit of Hong Kong people'
With hip hop drummers singing 'yes we can', children singing Jingle Bells Rock and acrobatic jugglers doing their thing, Operation Santa Claus kicked off to a heady start last night at Ocean Park.
But the annual charity drive, co-organised by the South China Morning Post and Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 3, could be in for a tough year as it begins its third decade of giving.
Hong Kong companies and ordinary folk are again being asked to dig deep into their pockets - with a conservative target of HK$10 million amid the current economic turmoil.
Every dollar raised will benefit 13 charitable groups in the 21st annual campaign. With the money raised in the next 11/2 months, the 13 charities and their innovative programmes will be able to improve the lives of more than 120,000 people for a year.
'This year, because of the financial turmoil, we are a little concerned that donations may be harder to come by,' Post editor C.K. Lau said at last night's launch. 'But we are still hopeful, as we believe that the people of Hong Kong are ready to chip in when they know there are good charitable programmes worthy of their support.'