Put it down to Christmas cheer. When businessman Turmo Rahkone, who has played Santa Claus many times in his native Finland, came across six singing Santas at the Devil's Advocate bar in Wan Chai, he not only joined in the carolling but also donated HK$100 to their cause.
The singing Santas were raising money earlier this month for Operation Santa Claus, an annual donation drive organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK.
Raising funds through musical Santas was the brainchild of BC Magazine, which for the last three years has hired local music company Katterwall to put on a performance that blends music with comedy.
As in the previous two years, the carolling Santas made stops of about 15 minutes each at a string of bars in SoHo, Lan Kwai Fong and Wan Chai, armed with their songbooks and three collection boxes.
The magazine and Katterwall also asked people to buy a Santa suit priced at HK$100 for charity.
Bethan Greaves, director of Katterwall, said people were encouraged to give whatever amount they wanted. 'I think we have already collected more money this year,' she said. The total collection will be known early next month.