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Sue Ng

The local community came together under the neon Christmas lights illuminating Hong Kong’s Taikoo Place for the annual street market in aid of charity and to also support residents affected by a deadly fire at a housing estate in November.
The White Christmas Street Fair, held by Swire Properties, ran from December 11 to 14 at Tong Chong Street, Taikoo Square and Taikoo Park. The event raised funds for Operation Santa Claus (OSC), the annual charity drive run by the Post and public broadcaster RTHK.
Tim Blackburn, Swire Properties’ chief executive, said the fair had become a “much-loved tradition” in the community since its inception in 2013.
“For us, it is an opportunity to give back to our community while creating a platform to empower the youth of Hong Kong and engage local businesses, performing groups, young entrepreneurs and social enterprises,” he said.
Blackburn said that, while all the proceeds from the fair would go to OSC to support the underprivileged, the company would match the money raised with a special contribution to relief efforts for residents affected by the blaze at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court.
The fire started on November 26 and raged for about 43 hours, engulfing seven of the estate’s eight blocks. At least 161 people died in the tragedy, while 79 others were injured and nearly 5,000 residents were displaced.
“The spirit of giving has an even deeper significance this year as the wider community shows unity in such difficult times,” Blackburn said.
“Recent events remind us of the importance of unity to sustain us through challenges while bringing comfort and hope to people.”

The theme of this year’s fair was “Colour the Season – Lights of Hope”. The event was once again designed and curated by 10 local university students from the Swire Properties Placemaking Academy, taking inspiration from Hong Kong’s iconic neon lights.
Among them were Donica Chen from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Joshua Fung from City University and Hannah Liang from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Decorated with dazzling neon light installations, the fair not only paid tribute to craftsmanship but also sought to connect the community through shared memories displayed on the billboards, symbolising hope in the wake of the fire.
“Neon is inherently interactive, inviting people to gather and engage. This sense of togetherness directly encourages fundraising and acts of giving,” Liang, 20, said.
Reflecting on the experience, Chen said the team incorporated fundraising elements through activities such as a Santa photo booth as well as interactive games and workshops.
“Donations shouldn’t be an endpoint, but a memorable part of the journey,” the 20-year-old said.
“We created an interactive game called ‘Mind Your Neon Step’ to help drive donations. Simply by making a donation, visitors and their families and friends can participate by stepping onto the corresponding coloured squares to the rhythm of the music.
“This way, giving becomes synonymous with joy.”

Seven local NGOs and social enterprises were also invited to be vendors at the fair and encourage visitors to “shop for a cause”.
Fung, also 20, added: “We found that fundraising initiatives are the most effective when they encourage the act of giving by cultivating a sense of ‘desire’ through experiences, rather than just being seen as a duty or responsibility.”
More than 100 corporate volunteers contributed to the four-day event, serving as OSC ambassadors to encourage and guide the public to take part in the seasonal giving.
OSC, which was established in 1988, has raised about HK$396 million for over 365 charity projects and helped more than 100,000 people throughout the years.
In addition to its annual fundraising drive, it is leading an emergency appeal to meet the specific needs of residents affected by the inferno.
All proceeds will support this year’s 13 OSC-funded charity projects and community partners involved in the fire relief efforts in Tai Po.
Click here to learn more about how to donate to OSC.


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Event in mid-December raised funds for Operation Santa Claus and pledged to match amount in relief for residents affected by Tai Po fire


Event in mid-December raised funds for Operation Santa Claus and pledged to match amount in relief for residents affected by Tai Po fire.


Operation Santa Claus

Swire’s Christmas fair encourages giving for Hong Kong fire-affected residents

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Event in mid-December raised funds for Operation Santa Claus and pledged to match amount in relief for residents affected by Tai Po fire

Event in mid-December raised funds for Operation Santa Claus and pledged to match amount in relief for residents affected by Tai Po fire