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Cindy Sui

On a sunny Saturday, 25 employees from the Hong Kong law firm Deacons spent the morning working side by side with 18 elderly volunteers, weeding, tilling the soil, and transplanting seedlings, while sharing laughter and lessons on organic farming and healthy eating.
The event on January 24 took place on the rooftop of Metroplaza in Kwai Fong, at an urban farm run by Farm the City, one of 13 charities selected to receive funding this year from the annual fundraising campaign, Operation Santa Claus (OSC).
The funding supports the charity’s project to promote urban farming by turning unused spaces in Hong Kong into gardens that grow vegetables and herbs for low-income elderly residents, helping to supplement their diets.
The project also aims to improve the physical and mental well-being of elderly people by encouraging them to leave their homes to work on the farm and socialise.
This marks the 15th year that Deacons, a long-time major donor, has supported OSC.
Lilian Chiang Sui-fook, a Deacons senior partner, said the firm, which celebrates its 175th anniversary this year, has benefited from Hong Kong, so it was good to give back to the community as it had done over the years, by doing pro bono work and supporting fundraising campaigns such as OSC.
“Of course, one should, morally and ethically,” Chiang said, adding that it made Deacons a better company and its staff more understanding of people from all walks of life.
“You see the real world ... some people who are not as fortunate give us a [different] perspective.”

The January 24 event brought together two very different community segments – law professionals and the elderly – reflecting OSC’s 2026 theme, “Building Bridges”.
Deacons’ volunteers provided much-needed labour to the understaffed community farm.
During a tour, they got to know the elderly while discovering that certain species of organically-grown jasmine flowers are edible and Swiss chard – often used as pig feed – is highly nutritious for humans with strong antioxidant properties that could help protect against chronic diseases.
By lending a hand, Deacons also benefited.
“It’s actually fun … You can get out of the office. It’s good for teambuilding,” Chiang said.
“It’s much better than in the past when we just donated to the Community Chest. We like the events organised by OSC.”
Michelle Hong, one of Farm the City’s founders and its executive director, said donors increasingly wanted to provide hands-on help for charities.

“More donors, whether corporates or different types of foundations, are trying to do more than just chequebook giving,” Hong said. “[Through these activities], they see how their funds and donations help develop programmes for all these beneficiaries.”
For corporate employees, she said, the experiences could be personally rewarding.
“We’ve seen through many of our programmes how corporate volunteers who started off doing this through their company discover missions that speak to their own values, things they care about,” Hong said.
Her charity also benefits from volunteers who help speed up farm work and provide an opportunity to raise awareness about supporting local farms and eating organically grown, seasonal produce to avoid the use of pesticides and harsh fertilisers.
“I’m really glad I had this experience doing urban farming with the elderly,” said Cherie Lum Hiu-ching, a young trainee lawyer.

“I did not know farming could be that accessible … and it’s a really meaningful initiative because I know some of this fresh produce will go to those in need.”
OSC, jointly established by the Post and public broadcaster RTHK in 1988, has raised around HK$396 million for more than 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 Tai Po 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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Hong Kong

Society

Deacons law firm, a major supporter of Operation Santa Claus, lends a hand to Farm the City, a charity promoting urban farming and food security for the elderly


Deacons law firm, a major supporter of Operation Santa Claus, lends a hand to Farm the City, a charity promoting urban farming and food security for the elderly.


Operation Santa Claus

RTHK

Operation Santa Claus: law firm volunteers dig deep with Hong Kong elderly

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Deacons law firm, a major supporter of Operation Santa Claus, lends a hand to Farm the City, a charity promoting urban farming and food security for the elderly

Deacons law firm, a major supporter of Operation Santa Claus, lends a hand to Farm the City, a charity promoting urban farming and food security for the elderly