Operation Santa Claus: Hong Kong hospital staff showcase culinary creations, don festive outfits at Christmas party to raise funds for charity

Outdoor Christmas party was highlight of series of activities hosted by Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital to support Operation Santa Claus, an annual fundraising drive

Hospital staff cooked culinary delights, participated in workout competitions and indulged in home-made fare offered at stalls to raise money for charity

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Staff from the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital try their hand at making waffles. Photo: Lam Lui Kong

Published: 3:51pm, 17 Dec 2023Updated: 4:35pm, 17 Dec 2023

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff wowed with culinary creations, joined a chips-eating competition and donned festive outfits at a Christmas celebration as part of a month-long effort to raise funds for charity.

The outdoor party, which took place on Monday, was the highlight of a series of activities hosted by the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital to support Operation Santa Claus (OSC), an annual fundraising drive by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK.

Hospital staff cooked culinary delights, participated in workout competitions and indulged in home-made fare offered at the stalls. Proceeds from the booth sales and contest sponsorships will go to OSC.

Hospital staff take part in an exercise challenge to raise money for charity. Photo: Lam Lui Kong

“We have been supporting OSC since 2009,” said Joseph Chan Woon-tong, the hospital’s deputy medical superintendent, who initiated the partnership with OSC. The hospital had raised about HK$11 million (US$1.4 million) for the initiative by the end of last year.

“We think OSC is very meaningful,” Chan said, noting that some OSC-funded organisations offered health-related services, which aligned with the hospital’s focus. “OSC supports charities which look after the mental and physical health of members of our society.”

Chan said that in addition to raising money and awareness about other people’s needs, the OSC activities allowed staff to enjoy themselves and encouraged them to look after their health.

During the “let’s shake it out for charity” challenge, staff exercised for a minute to earn a HK$200 windfall for OSC from the hospital and prearranged donors. Participants donned festive costumes, with some dressed as Christmas gifts, while they worked out.