“A lot of our colleagues picked up new cooking skills – like bread making, cake decorating or even making ice cream – during the pandemic,” Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Joseph Chan Woon-tong said. “So we thought, let’s give these talents a platform and also use it to raise money.”

But the contest was just one of a host of events the employees organised as part of the charity drive. Chan noted that in the past, the hospital held large parties or fairs with game booths to raise money but chose not to this year because of the pandemic.

“So we needed to think of a different way to involve everyone,” Chan said.

Given the hospital will celebrate its centenary next year, organisers decided to tie its OSC activities to the anniversary by asking participants to complete a “100-second challenge” to raise HK$100 (US$13), which the hospital then matched.

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Chan said that anyone could spare 100 seconds for an activity, and so far 800 people had completed the challenge.

“The aim is to get everyone involved, and it’s not just about the money,” he said. Chan himself hiked Sharp Peak in Sai Kung with four other colleagues, and when they reached the top completed 100 seconds of exercise such as jumping jacks.

Among the employees demonstrating their culinary skills this year was dietitian June Chan King-chi. She said she had been honing her sourdough bread-making skills and roasting her own coffee beans during the pandemic. One of her entries was bread cleverly disguised as a turkey.

“I call it the vegan turkey,” she said. “I make these anyway and I thought, ‘Why not do it for charity this year?’ So we decided on making festive sourdough and ornamental breads to raise money.”

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Also on display – and possibly up for sale later – were her sourdough bagels and packs of home-roasted coffee beans.

As part of the activities, this year’s chefs vied to see who could create the best looking traditional dalgona candy made trendy again by the hit Korean Netflix drama Squid Game.

“I was invited to take part, so I decided to consult the baker in the family,” said Dr Gladys Goh Lo, head of the department of diagnostic and interventional radiology, who won the best decoration award with her daughter, Dr Christine Lo Shing-yen.

The younger Lo said she had been interested in participating in OSC since she started working at the hospital last year.

“There are a lot of OSC activities here, and I’m excited to be able to take part this year for a good cause,” she said.

Departments can also submit ideas for food items that employees will then make and offer for sale to all staff members, with the proceeds going to OSC.

Hugh Chirverton, head of English-language programme services at RTHK, said the charity drive had become a Hong Kong institution.

“I’ve always hoped that [OSC] stays a community event,” said Chiverton, who has been involved in the fundraising effort for 30 years. “And this event is a very good example of just that – it is fundraising, team-building and also fun where everyone can enjoy.”