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Dan Kadison

Operation Santa Claus - which has a rich and storied  history of helping the disadvantaged in Hong Kong - has  made many a splash. 
The beginnings of the annual holiday appeal can be traced back to the 1960s, when RTHK Radio 3 presenters went the extra mile for charity, raising money through such stunts as climbing flagpoles and jumping into Victoria Harbour, according to RTHK executives Bryan Curtis  and Tai Keen-man.  
One of those brave souls  who took a dip for the community was Franklin Wong Wah-kay,  now the director of broadcasting for RTHK. 
'He was one of the presenters,' said Tai, RTHK's  assistant director of radio broadcasting.  'The water quality at the time I think was okay,' he added with a smile. 
While such gestures were much appreciated, Operation Santa Claus dried up in the 1970s, fading out when the Community Chest gained prominence, said Curtis,  RTHK's head of English programme service. 
Years later, though, Operation Santa Claus was back.
In the late 1980s, a bleak feeling about the future of Hong Kong  fell over the city, and RTHK looked to  team up with the South China Morning Post to restart the campaign, Tai said. 'Some people started migrating again and lost confidence in the future of Hong Kong,' he said.
'We thought we should ... bring out the community spirit.' 
The community, in turn, responded resoundingly. Now in its 22nd year, Operation Santa Claus - with the support of Hongkongers like you - has raised over HK$129 million for more than 90 charities. 
Post editor-in-chief Reginald Chua  and Curtis said the partnership between the two media outlets  had worked  well  over the years, as they  published and broadcast stories of community members in need while encouraging donations.
For the first 15 years of Operation Santa Claus, only one  or two charities were chosen annually. Then, in 2003, a series of changes occurred, Curtis said. More charities were selected. The Hong Kong Council of Social Service  was brought on board to help smaller groups and draft proposals for them. A stronger programme of due diligence was instituted.
And Operation Santa Claus' selection committee was expanded to include major donors, Curtis said. 
Additionally, more dedicated stories and reports were pledged.  And more community partners, including parents and kindergartens, were also invited to participate. 
'It's a much more broad community campaign now - schools, clubs, associations, individuals and corporations are all involved,' Curtis said. 
Also in 2003, the decision was made to turn Operation Santa Claus into a charity and form SCMP Charities Limited.  
Post deputy editor Cliff Buddle  said: 'Operation Santa Claus has gone from strength to strength in recent years. The changes made in 2003 have allowed a greater number and wider variety of charities to benefit. 
'Donors, through their generosity, make a big difference to the lives of those who are helped by the charities involved,' he added.
'The campaign has repeatedly shown Hong Kong to have a caring community in which people are prepared to dig deep into their pockets in order to help those in need, even when economic times are hard.'
You can help make a difference
How you can give
Donate online by credit card at osc.scmp.com
Donations can be made by ATM or at any HSBC branches: a/c number 502-676299-001 for  SCMP CHARITIES LTD - OPERATION SANTA CLAUS
You can donate by cheque, payable to  'SCMP CHARITIES LTD - OPERATION SANTA CLAUS' and mailed to:
Operation Santa Claus, Morning Post Centre, 22 Dai Fat Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, New Territories, Hong Kong.
Donations of HK$100 or more are tax-deductible. If you'd like a tax receipt, please send the completed donation form and original bank receipt, with your name, address and phone number, to the address above
Contact us at osc@scmp.com or  2680 8159 or visit us online at osc.scmp.com



Charity drive has a rich history of helping needy