Operation Santa Claus: touch of frost and a warm heart brings Swedish festive cheer to Hong Kong
- Swedish Winter event invites Operation Santa Claus beneficiaries to take part in the fun
- Swedish Consul General Per Augustsson says it’s good to bring a taste of his homeland to Hong Kong
Swedish Consul General Per Augustsson’s fondest memories of Christmas in his winter wonderland home country is enjoying the snow, amid lights, sleigh bells and festivities.
“The city is covered in snow. It creates a very special atmosphere,” Augustsson said. “It’s also fun to be outside. You can go skating on the lakes because the lakes are frozen. You can also go skiing.”
Temperatures in Hong Kong, however, reach nearly 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) even in November, so the atmosphere in the city is quite different, to say the least.
But Augustsson said, at this year’s and earlier Swedish Winter events organised by the Swedish consulate to Hong Kong and Macau, he and others were still able to bring Scandinavian Christmas cheer to the city, especially those who faced difficulties – the beneficiaries of Operation Santa Claus (OSC).
The Swedish consulate in November this year invited OSC beneficiaries to participate in the Swedish Winter event, as it has done for the past five years.
“It’s especially meaningful to help them have a bit of a good time and break from their everyday worries,” Augustsson said.
“That’s part of Christmas, isn’t it, that we should think of each other, take care of each other and make sure everyone is included. That’s part of the Christmas spirit.”
