The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (January 22), on the first day of the Lunar New Year, visited the staff on duty at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line/Futian Control Point. He also attended the Hong Kong Well-wishing Festival 2023 at Lam Tsuen in Tai Po to extend his New Year greetings to citizens.

     Accompanied by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, the Director of Immigration, Mr Au Ka-wang, and the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, Mr Chan first visited the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line/Futian Control Point to inspect its operation and meet the frontline staff of the Immigration Department, the Customs and Excise Department and the Hong Kong Police Force on duty. He learnt about the overall arrangements for customs clearance, public order maintenance, etc at the control point during the Lunar New Year period. He also met citizens and travellers along the way and extended his New Year greetings to them.

     Mr Chan said he was pleased to learn that various government departments spared no effort, with close co-ordination with one another, in ensuring the smooth operation of the various control points for the resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland in a progressive, orderly and comprehensive manner. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the frontline staff, as well as all other colleagues of the Government and practitioners of various industries, for their hard work during the Lunar New Year period.
 
     Afterwards, Mr Chan headed to Lam Tsuen in Tai Po to officiate at the lantern lighting ceremony of the Hong Kong Well-wishing Festival 2023 and kick-start the event. He joined with participating citizens to wish Hong Kong a prosperous year ahead. In his address delivered at the ceremony, he expressed the hope that, on its new journey of advancing from stability to prosperity, Hong Kong can do well in four aspects, namely resuming normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland; engaging with talent from around the world; forging collaboration with all walks of life; and achieving effective governance and social harmony. He looked forward to building a promising and prosperous Hong Kong with the community at large.

Ends/Sunday, January 22, 2023
Issued at HKT 14:40

NNNN