New Year Greetings from the Consul Generals in Hong Kong-紫荆网

New Year Greetings from the Consul Generals in Hong Kong

日期:2025-02-04 来源:紫荆 浏览量: 字号:
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比利时国旗

Dear Readers,

On behalf of the Belgian community in Hong Kong, I have the great pleasure to send my sincere greetings to the people of Hong Kong on the occasion of the Chinese New Year 2025. Wish you strength, wisdom, and perseverance during the Year of the Snake.

In 2024, we have witnessed the bridging connections between Hong Kong and Belgium by our iconic event "the Belgian Days", which brought the best of Belgium to the Hong Kong public. We were delighted to see the enthusiastic participation of our local friends during weeks and we are looking forward to its third edition in November 2025.

I deeply hope that Belgium and Hong Kong can continue fostering our relations. With the direct flight to Brussels coming in August 2025, I am sure the ties between these two important gateways will become even stronger.

Wishing you all a year full of happiness, health, and lots of good luck!

David Lomastro

Consul General of Belgium in Hong Kong

埃及国旗

Dear Readers,

On behalf of the Egyptian Consulate General in the Hong Kong SAR, I offer my warmest greetings and best wishes for a joyous Chinese New Year. This auspicious occasion signifies the commencement of a new lunar year, promising renewal, harmony, and prosperity.

Egypt and Hong Kong share a longstanding history of cultural and economic collaboration. We highly value the strengthening relationship between our regions and the significant contributions of the Chinese community to Hong Kong's vibrant society. Your diligence and commitment are integral to this city's success and prosperity.

Let us embrace unity and extend friendship and understandings. May this new year bring good health, happiness, and success in all your pursuits. May it be a year of renewed hope, fulfilling dreams and aspirations.

Sincerely,

Baher Sheweikhi

Consul General of Arab Republic of Egypt in Hong Kong & Macao

新加坡国旗

Dear Readers,

A very Happy Lunar New Year to everyone!

The year of 2024 has been a fruitful year for Singapore-Hong Kong relations. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State (Ministry of Health and Ministry of Digital Development and Information) Dr. Janil Puthucheary, and Senior Minister of State Amy Khor (Ministry of Environment and Sustainability and Ministry of Transport) all visited Hong Kong to exchange views with their counterparts and to draw inspiration from Hong Kong's public policies.

At Singapore's end, we were pleased to welcome Legislative Council President Andrew Leung, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, then-Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai Hung to Singapore. These government-level exchanges reflect the deep and enduring ties between Singapore and Hong Kong.

Beside the official exchanges, our growing bilateral ties are evident on the economic front too. There is a growing interest among Singapore companies in Hong Kong. The number of offices set up by Singaporean companies in Hong Kong increased by over 15% from 2021 to 2024, with 520 offices currently in Hong Kong. Total bilateral trade between Singapore and Hong Kong rose from HKD 383 billion in 2018 to HKD 481 billion in 2022.

Looking ahead, 2025 will be an important year for Singapore as we commemorate 60 years of independence (SG60). SG60 aims to celebrate Singapore's nation-building journey and reflect on our shared values as a multi-racial and multi-cultural meritocracy, and a resilient and inclusive society. As the premier hubs of Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia, there remains much that Singapore and Hong Kong can do to deepen our partnership, expand economic ties, and enhance the connectivity between our respective hinterlands. This was reaffirmed at the beginning of the New Year by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong's visit to Hong Kong in January 2025, when he met CE John Lee and other senior Hong Kong officials and co-chaired the Singapore-Hong Kong Business Roundtable.

As we usher in the Year of the Snake, I look forward to ties between Singapore and Hong Kong growing stronger. I also wish to take this opportunity to wish your readers good health, happiness, and success in the Lunar New Year!

Ong Siew Gay

Consul General of Singapore in Hong Kong

印度尼西亚国旗

Dear Readers,

On behalf of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong, allow me to wish you a happy Lunar New Year 2025. The year of the Wood Snake signifies wisdom, intuition, and growth—all of which are keys to navigating the ever-changing dynamics of today's and tomorrow's global landscape.

Lunar New Year celebration in Hong Kong reminds me of the festivities back in Indonesia, where it is also a National Holiday. This designation is emblematic of the nation's "unity in diversity" spirit, reflecting Indonesia's rich multiculturalism and its strong historical ties with China.

In many parts of Indonesia, Lunar New Year is a series of festivities featuring eclectic harmonious blend of Chinese and traditional cultural elements of the region itself. The city of Solo in Central Java, for example, holds the yearly festival of Grebeg Sudiro, which showcases processions, cultural carnivals, and performances rooted in the city's Javanese and Chinese cultures. This event attracts tens of thousands of attendees, including locals as well as visitors.

In the Meranti Islands of Sumatera, public water fights known as Cian Cui Festival is held to celebrate the holiday. Water symbolizes wealth and good fortune. Splashing one another with water is a way to spread this good fortune around. Like any other cultural festivals in Indonesia, Cian Cui is enjoyed by many regardless of their background.

Lunar New Year is also a moment for heartfelt family reunions and parties with delicious cuisine, including the popular kue keranjang (basket cake), an Indonesian twist to the traditional "nian gao".

Whether in Hong Kong or Indonesia, Lunar New Year celebrations hold a special place in many people's hearts for its cultural and personal significance. In this year of the Wood Snake, may us be granted the capacity to pursue perpetual growth, and continue to thrive in all our endeavours. Happy New Year!

Yul Edison

Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong

俄罗斯国旗

Dear Readers,

With Chinese New Year fast approached, I am delighted to extend my warmest greetings to the readers of your esteemed publication. When I first arrived in Hong Kong, I was captivated by the magical atmosphere of the Chinese New Year celebrations—an experience that left a lasting impression on me.

I vividly remember my first Spring Festival in Hong Kong—the streets adorned with countless red lanterns, the mesmerizing dragon and lion dances, the joyous fireworks, and the warm greetings of "Kung Hei Fat Choi" echoing everywhere. The energy and enthusiasm of these celebrations were truly inspiring.

Today, I am particularly pleased to note that Chinese New Year has gained popularity in Russia. In 2024, Moscow hosted unprecedented festivities to mark this significant cultural occasion, transforming its central districts into vibrant venues celebrating Chinese culture. The streets of the historic center dazzled with colourfully illuminated tunnels, while several locations featured the lively Chinese food fairs.

At the Moscow Exhibition Centre (VDNH), one of the city's iconic venues, visitors were offered to participate in traditional Qigong exercises and tea ceremonies. The Moscow Zoo marked the occasion with special events featuring our beloved panda, Katyusha, born to Ru Yi and Ding Ding in August 2024. For the first time in its 318-year history, the Botanical Garden of Moscow State University decorated its Subtropical Orangery with hundreds of red lanterns amidst blooming orchids and azaleas. An 18-meter dragon parade in the city center, accompanied by traditional music and drums, symbolized the powerful bond between our nations. Visitors also enjoyed master classes in Chinese calligraphy, painting, and traditional games, offering a deeper immersion into Chinese culture.

These celebrations are more than festive events—they reflect the deepening cultural understandings and friendship between Russia and China. It is truly inspiring to see how such occasions unite our cultures and bring two peoples closer together.

I am confident that the partnership between Russia and China will continue to flourish, guided by our shared values and mutual respect. Wishing everyone a prosperous and joyous Chinese New Year, filled with health, success, and prosperity.

Sincerely,

Anatoly Kargapolov,

Consul General of the Russian Federation in Hong Kong

阿联酋国旗

Dear Readers,

Kung Hei Fat Choy! I send my best wishes to all, observing the Spring Festival on January 29 in Hong Kong, China, across Asia, and around the world. The Spring Festival is not only a time for family reunions and celebratory rituals, but also a profound expression of shared values such as unity, hope, and renewal.

May the Year of the Wood Snake bring opportunity, peace, harmony, happiness, and amity to all. Also, my heartfelt congratulations to China on the inscription of the Spring Festival on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.

The United Arab Emirates is home to more than 200 nationalities. More than 400,000 overseas Chinese who celebrate the Spring Festival in the UAE are an essential part of our multicultural community.

The UAE is part of the global network of media outlets that broadcasts and reports on the China Media Group's 2025 Spring Festival Gala. Hence, Chinese people here can still enjoy this tradition while away from their home country.

During the Spring Festival, various venues across Dubai and Abu Dhabi will line up dazzling celebrations. For example, the Dragon Mart marks the season with interactive activities and traditional yet energetic performances.

Now in its 11th edition, the annual UAE Chinese New Year Spring Festival Gala celebrates the rich Chinese heritage through music, dance, and theatre.

The UAE and China celebrated 40 years of longstanding ties last year. Our Consulate held The Peak Run at Victoria Peak to symbolize the accomplishments of the UAE-China friendship and the hope for it to reach even greater heights in the future.

Among the peers in the region, the UAE has the deepest, broadest, and most fruitful cooperation with China. It might interest you to know that learning Chinese has become a new trend in the UAE. As of May 2024, there are 171 schools in the UAE offering Chinese language courses, with 71,000 students learning Chinese. Youth represent the future of our countries. I trust that these students will soon become the ambassadors of the UAE-China friendship.

H.E. Shaikh Saoud Ali Almualla

Consul General of the United Arab Emirates in Hong Kong

(This article was published in the Feb 2025 issue of Bauhinia Magazine)

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