Santa in the Marine Corps!

"Shopping and eating!" may well be a prompt and honest response from the average Hong Kong'er if you asked what their hobbies were, especially over the Christmas period. But there are sections of the population for whom shopping sprees and attending family feasts are impossibilities - a heartbreaking situation for single parents who would love to feed their children and buy gifts without worrying about what tomorrow would bring.

Mrs. Ho and five-year-old Siu are a typical example. Abandoned by Hong Kong resident Mr Ho, his wife who is not yet a HK citizen, was left without an income. Although little Siu is a legal Hong Kong citizen and is eligible for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, Mrs. Ho is not because she is considered a tourist. As a minor, Siu needs an eligible adult to claim her social security.

Mrs. Ho first approached Christian Action for food donations. We extended our love and support to the little family by offering them much more: Family integration programmes; extra-curricular activities facilitated by Shatin Baptist Church, and our own mutual help women’s support group. Siu now attends a weekly art programme offered by the secondary school students from German Swiss International School. These activities and the accompanying sense of community help to make life bearable for Mrs. Ho and Siu.

With the approach of Christmas accompanied by the usual frenzied shopping, Mrs. Ho thought sadly that Siu would not be one of the happy recipients. Then the US Marine Security Guard Detachment Hong Kong came to the rescue! Gunnery Sergeant Guevara, who initiated the toy distribution with Christian Action, said, "Our mission is to collect new toys to distribute to less fortunate children in the community. Our goal is to deliver a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens. Our objectives are to help less fortunate children experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our world's most valuable resources - our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause; and to contribute to better communities in the future."

Tom Cooney, the US Deputy Consul General in Hong Kong, GySgt. Guevara and three other members of the US Marine Security Guard Detachment personally distributed Christmas gifts to Siu and 59 other children from Christian Action's Mong Kok Centre for New arrivals and our Jordan Centre for Ethnic Minorities. The children were absolutely delighted with their gifts, and the surprise meeting with Santa and the Marine Detachment Hong Kong!