[Press Release] On the afternoon of January 30, the 2024 Lunar New Year Reception of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong was held last night at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Mr. Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Mr. Li Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, Mr. Zheng Yanxiong, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, as well as nearly 1,800 guests from the Central Government's organizations in Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government, the Legislative Council, the Judiciary, and various sectors of the Hong Kong community gathered to celebrate the Chinese New Year together.

Mr. Zheng Yanxiong, Director of the HKSAR Government, and Mr. Li Jiachao, Chief Executive of the HKSAR Government, delivered speeches looking ahead to the upcoming Year of the Dragon. Mr. Cheng delivered a Lunar New Year message entitled "Praise to the Pearl of the Orient and Blessings to the Heirs of the Dragon", in which he extended three dragon related blessings to Hong Kong and the general public: May Hong Kong's dragons and phoenixes fly and dance, and be blessed with the blessing of change and the prosperity of development; May Hong Kong's dragons and phoenixes be blessed with the blessing of peace and the prosperity of industry; May Hong Kong's dragons and horses be blessed with the blessing of vitality and the prosperity of culture; and May Hong Kong's dragon-horse spirit be blessed with the blessing of vitality. May the spirit of the dragon and the horse in Hong Kong bring the blessings of vitality and the prosperity of culture.

In his speech, Mr. Li Ka-chiu introduced the three major priorities of the SAR Government in the Year of the Dragon, which include: firstly, the legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law will be finalized as soon as possible to make up for the shortcoming of safeguarding national security, so as to enable Hong Kong to pack light, remove the worries, and focus on the economy, development and improvement of people's livelihood. Secondly, we will make every effort to promote economic development, better integrate into the overall situation of national development and enhance Hong Kong's international competitiveness. We will strengthen our co-operation with different economies and promote economic growth through mega events, so as to bring about a multiplier effect and turn "popularity" into "wealth". Thirdly, we will continue to improve the livelihood of the public and put care and integration into practice, so that the public can live and work in peace and contentment, and the people can lead a better and better life.

Before the start of the reception, the Hong Kong and Guangdong Foshan Dragon and Lion Dance Teams joined hands to present a Dragon and Lion Dance performance to celebrate the Lunar New Year, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra Youth Troupe performed "The Successor of the Dragon", "Step by Step", "Pearl of the Orient", etc., and the representatives of the students of Hong Kong Pui Kiu Middle School, the representatives of Hong Kong's sports athletes and representatives of the Central Government's organizations in Hong Kong presented a chorus of "The Bay Area is the Hometown", which won the warm applause of the whole audience.

It was reported that the reception, which had been suspended for four years due to the epidemic, resumed this year with a revamped format, where guests no longer stood, each had their own seat, and refreshments were carefully prepared.