Operation Santa Claus: runners don festive outfits for Hong Kong charity race

Dressed in Christmas outfits, more than 120 people joined an annual cross country run to help raise funds for a Hong Kong charity drive.

Participants of “Santa Hash” gathered at the Lockhart Road Playground in Wan Chai at 2.30pm on December 8 before they made their way around some of the city’s key landmarks, including the Star Ferry Pier, St John’s Cathedral and Hong Kong Park.

“This is the one event in the year where we all come together for a good cause,” organiser Mark Hope said.

Santa Hash originated in Malaysia in 1944, while the Hong Kong edition was started in 1991. At the time, the main items of donation were toys.

Last year’s Santa Hash raised more than HK$60,000 (US$7,720) for Operation Santa Claus (OSC), an annual fundraising drive established by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK.

“I don’t get much opportunity to otherwise give back to the community,” participant Allan Knowles said. “It’s also a bit more meaningful than simply just putting money in a box,”

The annual event also helps bring people of different backgrounds together.