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Operation Santa Claus outpaces last year’s fundraising for Hong Kong charities despite economic downturn

  • Audited numbers show the annual charity event run by the Post and RTHK raised more than HK$16 million in 2019
  • Morgan Stanley took home the Top Corporate Fundraiser prize for a fourth year running

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(From left) Kabeeta Gurung, of the Discovery Mind International Play Centre; Angela Yip, of Shung Tak Catholic English College’s Parent Teacher Association; Olympic swimmer and Operation Santa Claus (OSC) ambassador Stephanie Au; Canto-pop singer Chau Pak-ho; Morgan Stanley community affairs chief Kwok-Choi Wong and Dr Joseph Chan attend the May 13 OSC award ceremony in Shau Kei Wan. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Annual charity drive Operation Santa Claus (OSC) raised more than HK$16 million to support Hong Kong’s needy in 2019, exceeding the previous year’s total despite the steep economic downturn amid last year’s social unrest.
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Donations from the campaign, run by the South China Morning Post and RTHK since 1988, will benefit 13 local charities that help those in need, including children from low-income families and the mentally and physically disabled. According to the latest audited figure, the 2019 campaign raised HK$16,183,858 compared with 2018’s final tally of HK$16,063,000.

A Christmas singalong at Hong Kong’s Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel in East Tsim Sha Tsui helped raise money for Operation Santa Claus in December. Photo: Edward Wong
A Christmas singalong at Hong Kong’s Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel in East Tsim Sha Tsui helped raise money for Operation Santa Claus in December. Photo: Edward Wong

Lawrence Wong Kwok-yeung, senior manager of corporate social responsibility at the Post, said 2019 was a very difficult year for OSC with the normal December deadline extended until February due to some events hab to be cancelled.

At an awards ceremony on Wednesday, four of the event’s top fundraisers were honoured. Morgan Stanley was again recognised as the Top Corporate Fundraiser after raising HK$4 million, the highest amount a single entity has ever raised.

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