The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (February 8) visited a peach blossom farm in Pat Heung and the Skylight Market in Tin Shui Wai to learn more about their business situations and extend advance Lunar New Year greetings to members of the public.
 
     Mrs Lam started the visit at a farm where Lunar New Year flowers have been grown for more than 50 years. As she learned more about its business this year, Mrs Lam expressed her gratitude to the farmer, who is over 80 years old, and for years has supplied peach blossom trees to Government House to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Mrs Lam paid tribute to him for running the farm for several decades. Noting that owing to the epidemic, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) had to make special arrangements for the Lunar New Year fairs, and as adjustments were also made subsequently, she said that flower growers were bound to be affected and appealed for their understanding. She pointed out that the Government will do its utmost to fight the virus in order to resume the daily lives of members of the public and help economic activities return to normal as soon as possible. She also said that she would support the promotion of high value-added and sustainable development of the local agricultural sector as well as provide technical support to farmers.
 
     Accompanied by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Miss Vivian Lau; and the Director of Architectural Services, Ms Winnie Ho, Mrs Lam then visited the FEHD's Skylight Market in Tin Shui Wai. The market commenced operation at the end of last year, providing 36 dry and wet goods stalls. With the application of the modular integrated construction method, the building of the market was completed in 10 months. The design of the market has also adopted the concept of "place making" with the intention to create it as a place for leisure and gathering. Mrs Lam noted that different anti-epidemic measures were taken in the market, including the installation of thermometers, display of the QR code for the "LeaveHomeSafe" COVID-19 exposure notification mobile app and arrangement of contactless payments by all stalls. She chatted with a number of stall operators and customers, and was pleased to note that they were satisfied with the market's novel design, clean environment, convenient location and smooth operation. She said that the Government would continue to build new public markets and improve the facilities and management of existing markets in accordance with the plan announced earlier, including the building of new markets in Tseung Kwan O, Tin Shui Wai, Tung Chung and Kwu Tung North New Development Area as well as overhauling the Aberdeen Market to meet the daily needs of the people.
 
     Mrs Lam bought some fruits in the market and extended festive greetings to stall operators and residents.

Ends/Monday, February 8, 2021
Issued at HKT 21:27

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