******************************************************
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, accompanied by Po Leung Kuk's Vice Chairman Miss Abbie Chan and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr James Chan, visited toddlers and children at the Po Leung Kuk Children's Home this morning (February 8), extending her Lunar New Year greetings to them and the members of staff there.
During the visit, Mrs Lam shared the festive joy of the Lunar New Year by singing New Year songs with the young kids, as well as chatting with other children and having New Year snacks with them.
Mrs Lam then proceeded to Lam Tsuen in Tai Po to officiate at the lantern lighting ceremony of the Hong Kong Well-wishing Festival 2016, where she was joined by the Chairman of the Heung Yee Kuk, Mr Lau Ip-keung, and the Chairman of the Tai Po District Council, Mr Cheung Hok-ming. They witnessed the opening of this annual well-wishing festival and, along with local residents and overseas visitors, wished Hong Kong a prosperous year ahead. Attending this event for the fourth consecutive year, Mrs Lam said that she was glad to find the event enriched with new elements. Adding to the traditional way of making wishes by throwing wishing placards is a "Dreams come true" Facebook page. The event also offers 3D drawings for visitors to take photos and special stalls.
Later, Mrs Lam, accompanied by the Deputy Director of Social Welfare (Services), Mr Lam Ka-tai, visited the 96-year-old Uncle Fook, who resides at a senior housing unit of the Hong Kong Housing Authority, to extend her festive greetings to him. Mrs Lam met Uncle Fook during her tenure as the Director of Social Welfare and has been visiting him from time to time since then.
In the past few years, Mrs Lam has been visiting elderly singletons, people living in residential care homes and members of the grass roots during the Lunar New Year to share a good time with them and offer them her warm regards.
In the afternoon, Mrs Lam went to the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan. Accompanied by the Director of Immigration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, she met with front-line officers of the Immigration Department, the Customs and Excise Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Marine Department and the Department of Health to send them New Year greetings. She expressed her particular gratitude to staff of the departments for their dedication in providing efficient services to a huge number of members of the public and tourists over the Lunar New Year period. Mrs Lam also extended her Lunar New Year greetings to members of the public and tourists while inspecting the immigration control points.
Ends/Monday, February 8, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:43
NNNN
