Christmas full of joy, love, care in HK
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-24 14:53

Shopping malls' splendid decorations, theme parks' wonderful ideas, and the charities' caring action, all this allows Hong Kong to be filled with joy, love and care in this Christmas Eve.

Giant Christmas trees, lovely gift-boxes and dazzling lights have been put up in most shopping centers to attract visitors. The indoor fireworks display at Metrocity in Tseung Kwan O should have become the most conspicuous one of all.

A Christmas tree of nine meters high, fitted with 3,000 light bulbs, spurted golden sprinkles into the air as music starts and light goes up, creating a jaw-dropping effect. This is the first- ever indoor fireworks display being carried out in a shopping center.

Hanging around in the International Financial Center mall at Central, visitors are able to enjoy a string of performances including dancing, singing, acrobatics, which together interweave classical episodes of The Nutcracker.

Moving to the Kowloon side, Festival Walk is using the silver gold color of platinum to create an atmosphere of a white Christmas. A 20-meter huge backdrop is being put up with many Christmas accessories like little angels, Christmas stockings and tiny bells hanged on it. The backdrop together with the snow and huts scenes set up in mall interweaves a delightful environment.

Presenting gifts to each other plays an important part in Christmas. By joining the caring action organized by charities, Hong Kong people can try and act as Santa Claus this year to deliver presents of love to those who are in need.

The Salvation Army of Hong Kong is holding a month-long activity namely Christmas Red Kettle Appeal 2005 spreading the message of "Sharing is caring." They put red kettles at the Hong Kong International Airport and shopping centers all over the city to appeal for funds for the poor.

Everywhere, public contributions to the kettles enable the Salvation Army to bring the spirit of Christmas to those who would otherwise be forgotten -- the aged and lonely, the ill, the poor and unfortunate.

Apart from doing shopping and sightseeing, going for blood donation can also be considered as one of the Christmas programs during the holiday. The Hong Kong Blood Transfusion Service has called on the public to join the Let's Give Blood in Heart-warming Winter campaign to help patients in need of blood transfusions.

Heart-warming donation hanging bags and Christmas celebration activities are specially prepared for those who join the campaign. Furthermore, blood donors are also encouraged to join the Creative Blood Donation Promotion Short Clip competition to motive more people, especially the youth, to give blood.

The Hong Kong Disneyland is celebrating its first Christmas in Hong Kong and recorded a full house on December 23 which is the second time since it opened in September. The first time that it has got tickets sold out was on December 13.

A party was held on Christmas Even in Po Leung Kuk, a local charity, for children who lacked the care of parents. A bunch of Disney friends were also there to share love and joy with the children.

Another theme park, Hong Kong Ocean Park, has invested over 10 million Hong Kong dollars (about 1.29 million US dollars) for a festive program. A machine that can produce 36 tons of real snow a day has been introduced into the park. Visitors can start a snow battle or try to make a snowman with real snow.

The park also invites visitors to officiate the lighting up ceremony of a 12-meter tall Christmas tree every evening during the program, building a climax of the day.