DPM Lawrence Wong at the Chinatown CNY 2023 Opening and Light-Up Ceremony

My Cabinet and Parliamentary Colleagues,
Community Partners and Residents,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening and Happy New Year to everyone! We just had our countdown not too long ago to usher in 2023, and today is just the first working day of the new year. But according to the Lunar Calendar, the Chinese New Year starts early this year. So I am very happy to join all of you tonight for the lighting up of Chinatown.

The Chinatown light-up is a proud Singaporean tradition. We have been doing this for more than 20 years. But this year’s ceremony is extra special. Because for the past two years, we have not been able to gather in large groups, we have not had the same festive fare that all of you are so used to, because of Covid restrictions. So the celebrations have been muted and it was not quite the same spirit as before. But this year, finally, we have been able to resume all our activities, and we can have a full festive atmosphere to usher in the new year. So we have much to be grateful for, and much to rejoice. In particular, I would like to thank everyone in the Chinatown Festival Organising Committee for your contributions in putting together this year’s activities. Let us give them a big round of applause.

I am sure there will be continued challenges and uncertainties in this Year of the Rabbit. But in times of adversity and difficulties, there will also be new opportunities to develop and to grow. So if we continue to stay united as a country, and we work together as one people, as we have done over the past three years of tackling Covid-19, I am confident that we can build a brighter future and a better Singapore together.

On that note, let me wish everyone a happy Lunar New Year. May this Year of the Rabbit bring good health, happiness and success to all of you.

Thank you very much. Let me continue with a few words in Mandarin as well.

各位女士们、先生们，大家晚上好！我非常高兴今天能够参加今年的牛车水新春亮灯仪式。

农历新年是阖家团圆，欢庆新的一年到来的好日子。今年的亮灯仪式也意义非凡。

过去三年，因为防疫措施，来牛车水看灯饰和买年货的人比较少。

虽然疫情还没完全结束，政府也在密切关注中国新一波疫情的发展，但新加坡的情况已经相当稳定。

我们因此放松了许多防疫措施，让更多人可以聚在一起庆祝新年。

所以我相信今年的牛车水一定会更热闹，更有新年气氛。

我也想感谢牛车水节庆筹委会，尽心尽力与基层组织和设计团队合作，把这次的活动做到最好。

新年新气象，新的一年将充满新机遇，也会有新挑战。所以，兔年来临之际，我希望国人能够像兔子一样机智敏捷，把握新的一年所带来的机遇，共同创造更美好的新加坡。

我在此跟大家拜个早年。祝大家身体健康、万事如意，在事业上、学业上，“兔”飞猛进。谢谢！

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