Children's charity kicks off Kowloon day care fund-raising effort

Christine Foundation chairman Christine Park Young-sook (centre in pink, with friends) donned her native Korean dress as compatriot artist Kim Chung-sik (far left) created silk paintings at the children's charity's lavish but intimate Wednesday evening preview of fashion and art auction lots in the Conrad Hotel's Hennessy Room.

The auction, for which a date is yet to be set, would raise funds for a day care centre in Kowloon, said Park. 'In areas such as Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po, children who are left at home while their parents are at work are susceptible to joining gangs or getting involved in crime, which can be prevented,' she said.

Undaunted by the modest turnout to her charity's event, Park was optimistic that the foundation would reach its goal by the end of the year. 'This event was a bit rushed, but I plan to [hold] a much larger [one] in October,' she said.

'There's a good chance [that former US president] Jimmy Carter will be there as well as friends of [former US president] George W. Bush ... that should probably help fund-raising a bit.'