The panel conferred mixed reviews on the first two acts: a rocking rendition of Valerie sung by 15-year-old sensation Saxby Macalister, and some edgy, humorous banter by sales trainer and comedian Anthony Solimini.

One of Solimini's best lines: 'If Santa is [so popular], why does he have to work at Pacific Place every day?'

The third act, the Guzheng Kids Trio, impressed the judges.

The three teenage girls played a beautiful tune called Spring on Snow Mountain.

Next up was Gillian Ho. She received warm words after singing Special from the musical Avenue Q.

Ho was followed by architect cum comedian Thomas Schmidt, who delighted the judges with imitations of commonly heard sounds, and riffs involving Hong Kong.

When the scores were tallied, Schmidt and the Guzheng Kids Trio were chosen as finalists and asked to perform again.

In the end, the Guzheng Kids Trio - under the tutelage of Joey Lau of the Lau Hiu Ying Guzheng School in To Kwa Wan - grabbed top honours.

Ng Yee-wai, 14, Tsang Yuen-ching, 13, and Wu Yi-ki, 14, beamed while standing on stage.

'We are very proud but so nervous,' Ng told the crowd.

Every act walked away with a prize - whether it was a Grand Hyatt Hong Kong Speciality Suite package, a VIP-box gift experience or Hong Kong Ballet tickets.

Saxby went home with a dinner for two at Domani restaurant after she won the Audience Popularity Award.

There were other performances throughout the night. Singer Ginger Kwan sang her newly released, soulful single The Christmas Wish. RTHK's Bryan Curtis crooned a snappy a cappella version of Mack the Knife. And Anders Nelsson, dressed as jolly St Nick, belted out a couple of colourful holidays songs: Blue Christmas and White Christmas.

'It's been a wonderfully entertaining evening,' Curtis, RTHK's head of English programme services, told the crowd. 'But just to remind everyone what we're here for - eat, drink and be merry, and also ... please donate as much money as you can. Make a donation. We are so much more blessed in our lives - most of you here tonight - than the people we are helping.'

Two special guests were Rob Stewart, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Carmen Yau Ka-man, of the Families of SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) Charitable Trust.

Stewart and Yau represented the donors and beneficiaries of Operation Santa Claus.

'Santa's Got Talent' raised about HK$50,000 for the annual fund-raising campaign. Grappa's Cellar donated part of the takings to the cause. The event was recorded and will be broadcast on Christmas Day on RTHK Radio 3.

You can help make a difference

How you can give

Donate online by credit card at osc.scmp.com

Donations can be made by ATM or at any HSBC branches: a/c number 502-676299-001 for SCMP CHARITIES LTD - OPERATION SANTA CLAUS

You can donate by cheque, payable to 'SCMP CHARITIES LTD - OPERATION SANTA CLAUS' and mailed to:

Operation Santa Claus, Morning Post Centre,

22 Dai Fat Street,

Tai Po Industrial Estate, New Territories,

Hong Kong.

Donations of HK$100 or more are tax-deductible. If you'd like a tax receipt, please send the completed donation form and original bank receipt, with your name, address and phone number, to the address above