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Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, at the Spring Reception at Government House today (February 19):
Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
I am glad to meet you all here today at the beginning of the new Year of the Snake. Let me start by wishing every one of you and your beloved ones good health and great success in the year ahead.
It is a tradition for the Government that the Chief Executive holds a spring reception at Government House to celebrate the Chinese New Year with guests from various sectors of the community.
To make full use of Government House, I asked my colleagues after I took office in July last year to organise different kinds of activities here, apart from usual official activities, so that all members of the public could share this very special historic building.
Last August, we hosted a dinner in this Ballroom for distinguished guests from all over the world attending the 100th FDI Annual World Dental Congress held in Hong Kong and there were similar functions after that. In November, the Community Chest hosted a wine-tasting dinner through which they raised, I heard, quite a few million dollars. That's a very good effort for one evening.
Apart from that, we also have festive activities at Government House for the people. We had dozens of children gathered in front of the front lawn for a Christmas tree lighting ceremony. And then we had elderly people, 80 of them, in their 80s and 90s attending a dog show.
Behind all these is one thought: All 7 million people in Hong Kong are one big family. By sharing Government House, this building, a monument that belongs to all Hong Kong people, I try to make this family warmer and closer.
Last but not least, I wish this big family of Hong Kong a prosperous year to come and hope that every member of it can share the fruits of our efforts. Thank you very much.
Ends/Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:52
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