THE spotlight will be on provision of proper care to deprived children this month after Operation Santa Claus 1994 was launched last night with the theme: 'No more home alone'. And a healthy launch it was, with donations already totalling $650,000. That money will go towards fulfilling nine important projects for the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children. The campaign conducted by RTHK Radio 3 and supported by the South China Morning Post hopes to raise at least $5 million to provide safe and caring day facilities for underprivileged children. Society chairman Elizabeth Bosher said: 'The society is one of Hong Kong's oldest charities and currently cares for over 2,000 children who might otherwise be left at home alone while both parents work. Between 1989 and 1991, 80 such children died in tragic accidents as a result of being unsupervised, many more were injured, and rarely a week goes by without such cases being reported.' The Governor's wife, Lavender Patten, declared the month-long drive open and asked Hong Kong people to give generously. 'Anything that can be done to prevent the tragic accidents and loss of young lives deserves all the support we can give,' she said at a ceremony which coincided with switching on of the Christmas lights at Park Lane Shoppers Boulevard, Tsim Sha Tsui, by television star Lydia Shum. Mrs Patten received cheques of $100,000 from Marks and Spencer, the Swire Group, Sincere Co, Urban Property Management, Holiday Inn Golden Mile, and the Lippo Group. Sun Hung Kai Property gave $50,000 and Modern Terminals Ltd pledged to donate at least $60,000 by collecting 50 cents from every container handled this month. The Post's Editor-in-Chief, David Armstrong, acknowledged the continued support of Mrs Patten. He said the appeal would focus on the achievements of this hard-working charity. Some of the children in the society's care performed a dance in appreciation of the campaign. They were mesmerised by pop idol Jacky Cheung, who will hold a special Christmas function to raise money for Operation Santa Claus. He sang a few bars of Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
