John Lee kicks off Lunar New Year with trilingual greetings at Cathay night parade

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu joined officials to launch Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year celebrations at the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade on the first day of the holiday, urging the city to promote its unique appeal to global visitors.

Accompanied by his wife, Janet Lee Lam Lai-sim; Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui; and Chairperson of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Peter Lam Kin-ngok, Lee greeted the crowd in Cantonese, Putonghua and English, wishing everyone good fortune and success in the Year of the Horse.

He noted that Hong Kong welcomed nearly 50 million visitors last year, whose footprints and laughter reflected strong international affection for the city and served as motivation for continued improvement.

Lee said the new year offers a chance to build on past achievements by stepping up global promotion of Hong Kong’s distinctive charm and hidden local gems, aiming to make the city the top choice for travelers worldwide.

He concluded with festive wishes that Hong Kong would charge forward like a galloping horse, driving full-speed economic growth, leading industries, and bringing happiness and prosperity to every household year after year.