Festive spirit shines like neon (hktdc.com)


	The rickshaw race is again a highlight of ACCA's annual Charity Fun Day

	Hikers on the Oxfam Trailwalker traverse some of Hong Kong's most scenic countryside

	The Christmas Ice Odyssey at Ocean Park always provides a spectacular show

When rickshaws once again clatter through the streets of Hong Kong, you know it must be nearly Christmas.

Long regarded as a shopper's paradise, Hong Kong is also renowned for its spirit of generosity. The annual charity fun day, organised by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Hong Kong, is just one of the many fundraisers the city turns on at this time of year.

Featuring a rickshaw race, the 12th ACCA Charity Fun Day, 14 Dec, at the Chater Road pedestrian precinct in Central, has Poverty Relief as its theme. The aim is to sponsor selected poverty-relief projects and initiatives, but also to raise awareness that individuals can make a difference. Since 1997, the ACCA Charitable Foundation Limited has raised more than US$900,000, benefiting 20 charitable organisations.

Fortune shared

Meanwhile, organisers have been counting proceeds from the 100-kilometre Oxfam Trailwalker. Hong Kong is the home of the Trailwalker, which began in 1981 as a military exercise and a few years later, was opened to the public. Trailwalker is now one of the world's largest and longest fundraising endurance challenges, staged annually in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Hong Kong, Japan, and now, Belgium.

This year, more than 3,000 people took part in the the November event, which must be completed within 48 hours and covers some of Hong Kong's most spectacular hiking territory along the MacLehose Trail. The 2008 target was to raise US$3.5 million for Oxfam. The event has raised close to US$38.5 million in the past 26 years.

Operation Santa Claus is another Christmas appeal, whereby Hong Kong people share their good fortune with others during the winter festive season. Organised jointly by the South China Morning Post and Radio Television Hong Kong, the campaign so far has raised more than US$15 million for local charities.

This year's Operation Santa Claus kicked off in November with a charity golf day in the lead-up to the UBS Hong Kong Open. Oliver Bertschinger, UBS Executive Director and Head of Sponsorship in Asia-Pacific, said that even in tough economic times, people will give because they know that others are less privileged. "It is true that a lot of people are actually much worse off. Talking about Operation Santa Claus, it is still a much more important cause than our problems," he said.

Enjoy Winterfest

Christmas, of course, is also a time to celebrate. Hong Kong Winterfest is the city's biggest wintertime celebration, running from now until 4 January. The Hong Kong Tourism Board has packed glitz and glamour, fun and romance into this year's Winterfest, with stunning illuminations and a full programme of events. Highlights include the Hong Kong International Races, 14 December; a huge outdoor expo of local and international branded products (the 43rd Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo), an Ocean Park Christmas Special, 13 December–4 January; and Hong Kong Disneyland's Sparkling Christmas, 28 November–2 January. The New Year's Eve Countdown Carnival will include thrilling performances and cultural displays.

All over town, restaurants are offering a range of promotions, and famous entertainment districts like Lan Kwai Fong are ramping up the party action. It is also sale time in the city's shopping malls, so prepare to bag lots of bargains.