A group of children with angel's wings on their backs sold chocolate flowers at Tsim Sha Tsui Star port, Hong Kong, yesterday, for HK$35 (US$4) apiece.
With a chocolate and a winged-heart embedded in a silk flower, these specially designed chocolate flowers attracted many pedestrians.
"Please buy a chocolate flower for your lover for this Valentine's Day. You know they are made by seven mentally retarded persons," a girl said to buyers.
Wun Yangqiao, leader of the Saint Jame's Settlement, said that it is a tradition of the group to sell presents on Valentine's Day.
Last year, they succeeded in raising HK$90,000 (US$12,360) by selling chocolate. With the money, they established a pottery class and a dancing class for 800 members of the group.
"We hope to collect HK$100,000 (US$13,736) this year and help more retarded persons turn their dreams into reality," Wun said.
It was not only Saint James' Settlement. Many other organizations in Hong Kong also took part in activities helping those in need on February 14, making Valentine's Day full of love and sweetness.
The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) is such an organization. It always encourages citizens to donate blood during festival time. This year, Valentine's Day comes soon after Lunar New Year, so the BTS organized an activity entitled "sweet love, share love let's give blood on Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day."
At Times Square Plaza, a shopping mall at Causeway Bay, with donations of HK$200 (US$27) or above to a charity foundation for schooling on the Valentine's Day, the donor's love proclamation to the loved one will appear on the Square's super-large TV screen. All people at the Square will witness their love and share their joy.
(China Daily February 16, 2005)
