HKG-FUTURE CLAUS

A Santa Claus hands out Christmas presents to traders at the Hong Kong Futures Exchange 19 December before the trading session. Traders wore the Santa Claus hats in support of Operation Santa Claus - a local Christmas Charity. Hong Kong share prices opened sharply lower, the key Hang Seng index lost 386.10 points at 10,368.10 fifteen minutes after trading started. EPA/AFP/THOMAS CHENG