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+ IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE REGISTERED WILL CAST YOUR VOTES IN THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS NEXT MONTH. BY DOING SO, YOU WILL BE PLAYING AN IMPORTANT PART IN CREATING THE FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG. WE SHALL BE ABLE NOT ONLY TO RETAIN THE BEST AND WELL TRIED ELEMENTS IN OUR SOCIETY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ENLIVEN GOVERNMENT WITH NEW IDEAS WHICH FRESH MINDS WILL BRING TO THE PROBLEMS WHICH FACE US.
+THE OX IS A STURDY SYMBOL OF OUR DETERMINATION TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE NEW YEAR. WE CAN DO SO WITH A CONFIDENCE WHICH HAS ITS ROOTS IN THE STRENGTH OF A COMMUNITY UNITED IN ITS RESOLVE TO BUILD STEADILY FOR THE FUTURE.+
SPEAKING IN CANTONESE, THE GOVERNOR SAID:
+THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE OX.
+ THE OX SYMBOLISES PERSERVERANCE
STEADFASTNESS AND COURAGE.
I HOPE THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE IN HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG IN THIS SPIRIT.
+MY WIFE AND I WISH YOU ALL GOOD HEALTH AND ALL THE VERY BEST.+
LADY YOUDE SAID: I WISH YOU ALL EVERY HAPPINESS, GOOD HEALTH AND THE BEST OF LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR.+