Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the 2019 Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza in Tsim Sha Tsui tonight (February 5):
 
Ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Kung Hei Fat Choi! Happy Chinese New Year! Welcome to the 24th International Chinese New Year Night Parade.
 
     As the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I'm delighted to join you at this Night Parade to celebrate the most jubilant of our Chinese festivals.
 
     A fantastic, multicultural pageant, the parade annually thrills not only locals but also visitors from around the world. Alongside a fanfare of spectacular floats, this year's parade showcases more than 20 performing groups – from Hong Kong and from all over the world – here to dazzle and delight long into the night.
 
     As fabulous as the parade promises to be, there's more to come in the days and nights ahead, as Hong Kong's Chinese New Year celebration continues through the New Year, with a fireworks extravaganza, a well-wishing festival, brilliant lantern displays and much more. I welcome every one of you to celebrate with us.
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, I know you will enjoy this marvelous, memorable evening. And I wish you all a happy, healthy and rewarding Year of the Pig. Thank you very much.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited staff members on duty at the site of the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair and the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) this morning (February 5) to express her gratitude for their dedication to duties in serving the public during the Chinese New Year.

     As in last year, Mrs Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, inspected clean-up work at the site of the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair this morning and visited staff members of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department on duty to thank for their hard work during the holiday. She also expressed her gratitude to volunteers from the department for delivering pots of flowers and plants donated by fair vendors to the homes for the elderly and hospitals, showing support for environmental protection and sharing festive joy with other people.

     Mrs Lam, accompanied by the Acting Secretary for Transport and Housing, Dr Raymond So Wai-man, the Chairman of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), Mr Jack So and the Chief Executive Officer of the AAHK, Mr Fred Lam, then attended the Chinese New Year festive activities at the HKIA, during which she exchanged New Year greetings with members of the public who were departing Hong Kong and travellers who had just arrived at the city. Mrs Lam also visited frontline officers of the Immigration Department and the Customs and Excise Department to express her appreciation for their devotion to duty during the holiday, providing efficient services to a large number of travellers during the Lunar New Year period.

     Mrs Lam said that Hong Kong is an aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific Region and in the world, in which the HKIA has been playing an important role. She noted that the Civil Aviation Department had set a new single-day record of handling 2 467 flights just days ago, while the HKIA's three air traffic categories reached new annual heights in 2018 with 74.7 million passengers, 427,725 flight movements and 5.1 million tonnes of total cargo throughput handled. She said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to work together with the AAHK to further strengthen Hong Kong's leading position as the international aviation and cargo hub.

     On her return trip, Mrs Lam went to a home for the elderly in Tsz Wan Shan to visit the 98-year-old Uncle Fook. Mrs Lam met Uncle Fook during her tenure as the Director of Social Welfare and had visited him during the Chinese New Year over the years to send festive greetings to him. She also presented mandarin oranges to other elderly residents there and conveyed her well wishes to them.

     In the evening, Mrs Lam will attend the Chinese New Year night parade organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board in Tsim Sha Tsui to join members of the public to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

                                

     The Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, visited West Kowloon Station (WKS) of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) today (February 5) to see its operation on Lunar New Year's Day and meet personnel on duty at the WKS Port.  

     Mr Lee first visited the Police Report Centre at the Hong Kong Port Area. Accompanied by officers of the Immigration Department and the Customs and Excise Department, he then viewed the immigration and customs clearance operations at the departure hall.

     Afterwards, Mr Lee proceeded to the Mainland Port Area and visited the personnel of the Port Office, Immigration Inspection, Customs and Railway Public Security of the Mainland. 

     During his visit at each unit, Mr Lee thanked the officers on duty for their dedication during the Lunar New Year holidays in ensuring the smooth operation of the WKS Port so that passengers can enjoy the efficient and convenient railway services of the XRL during the very busy festive season period.

        

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, today (February 5) on the first day of the Lunar New Year visited staff on duty at Lok Ma Chau Boundary Control Point (BCP) and senior residents of an elderly home, sharing with them festive joy and expressing to them sincere blessing.

     He first visited the arrival hall of the Lok Ma Chau BCP to observe its operation. He sent his best regards to officers from the Immigration Department, Hong Kong Police Force, Customs and Excise Department and Department of Health. He received updates from them on the overall operational plan at the BCP for passenger clearance, passenger diversion, law and order and epidemic prevention during the Lunar New Year period.

     Mr Cheung then proceeded to outbound coach pick-up bays of the BCP. He was briefed by Transport Department officers on the adjustments to the operation and staff deployment made by bus operators to cope with the additional service demand arising from the Lunar New Year holidays.

     Mr Cheung was pleased to note that relevant Government departments had been working closely to address the heavy passenger flow during the Lunar New Year holidays, and were prepared to implement suitable diversion measures where necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the BCP. He extended his warmest gratitude to officers at all BCPs for holding fast to their posts and serving the public with excellence.

     Mr Cheung later visited an elderly home in Fu Shin Estate in Tai Po and conveyed his festive greetings to the senior residents, wishing them good health as well as a joyful and auspicious year ahead. To share the festive joy, he joined the residents including one who reached 100 years old in singing Lunar New Year songs.   

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.