1
FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1993
GOVERNOR'S LUNAR NEW YEAR MESSAGE
*
-
1993
WE
ALL KNOW THAT LIFE IN HONG KONG CAN BE HECTIC. EVERYONE KEEPS UP A FORMIDABLE PACE. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY HONG KONG IS SO SUCCESSFUL.
A WHILE. THAT.
A
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A BREAK ONCE IN THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL IS A TIME WHEN WE CAN DO JUST TIME WHEN WE CAN RELAX TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. A TIME FOR REINFORCING THE BONDS OF FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. THE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL IS ALSO A GOOD TIME TO TAKE STOCK. IT OFFERS THE CHANCE TO REFLECT ON THE YEAR THAT IS PAST; AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO SET FRESH GOALS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD.
YOUR MOST
THE
A PERIOD OF CONTEMPLATION ALLOWS US TO SORT OUT WHAT REALLY MATTERS FROM THE CLUTTER OF OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. I IMAGINE THAT FOR MOST OF YOU - AS FOR ME THE THING THAT MATTERS MOST OF ALL IS FAMILY. IT IS WITHIN OUR FAMILIES THAT WE ARE MOST AT HOME AND SECURE. THE INSTITUTION OF THE FAMILY IS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, AT VERY HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND IT IS OUR CHILDREN THAT ARE AT HEART OF OUR FAMILIES. SPENDING TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN AT THE YEAR FESTIVAL IS A PARTICULAR PLEASURE. AND THE TIME WE SPEND THEM REINFORCES OUR DETERMINATION TO WORK FOR A BETTER WORLD FOR CHILDREN AND FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO LIVE IN.
THE
NEW
WITH OUR
IN HONG KONG, WE HAVE PARTICULAR REASON TO BE PROUD OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. THEY CARRY HONG KONG'S REPUTATION AROUND THE WORLD. OUR YOUNG ATHLETES AT LAST YEAR'S OLYMPICS IN BARCELONA PERFORMED REALLY SUPERBLY; AS DID THEIR TALENTED COLLEAGUES AT THE PARALYMPICS. I SAW FOR MYSELF THE CONTRIBUTION OUR CHILDREN MADE TO THE HONG KONG FESTIVAL IN CANADA WHERE A YOUNG CHOIR, THAT TRAINED ENTHUSIASTICALLY AT SHA TIN, SANG TO DELIGHTED AUDIENCES. AND IN MY VARIOUS VISITS ABROAD I HAVE SPOKEN TO SOME OF THE STUDENTS, AS 1 DID IN TORONTO, WHO ACHIEVE OUTSTANDING RESULTS FOR HONG KONG AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE WORLD. OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE A TRIBUTE TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
I HAVE BEEN GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG NOW FOR SIX MONTHS. IF THERE IS ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN BORNE IN ON ME MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE DURING THAT TIME, IT IS THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT IS ONE OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS AND VALUABLE ASSETS. I SEE THE EVIDENCE OF IT WHEREVER I GO - WHETHER AT LAST SATURDAY'S GALA EVENING TO RAISE MONEY FOR OUR CANCER SERVICES; OR AT THE DAY CARE CENTRE AND THE SHELTERED WORKSHOPS WHICH I VISITED IN WAN CHAI LAST WEEK, WHERE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WORK QUIETLY AND STEADILY TO HELP THE ELDERLY AND THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CONTINUE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AT NEW YEAR IT IS RIGHT THAT WE SHOULD MAKE TIME ΤΟ REMEMBER THE PLIGHT OF THOSE WHOSE LIVES ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN OUR OWN; AND TO BE THANKFUL FOR THE EFFORTS OF THOSE WHO CARE TIRELESSLY FOR THEM WHILE WE ARE ENJOYING OURSELVES. MANY OF THOSE PROFESSIONALS VOLUNTEERS WILL BE WORKING THROUGH THE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY.
AND
/I SHOULD