Mr. John Lee Visited the Chinese New Year Fair at Kwun Tong Recreation Ground on February 16th

On February 16th, the Chinese New Year's Eve, the Chief Executive, Mr. John Lee, visited the Chinese New Year Fair at Kwun Tong Recreation Ground at around 3 p.m., accompanied by Miss Alice Mak, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, and Mr. Tse Chin Wan, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology. They chatted with citizens and learning about the stalls' business.

Mr. John Lee visited the Chinese New Year Fair in Kwun Tong. Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. John Lee visited the Chinese New Year Fair in Kwun Tong. Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. John Lee visited the Chinese New Year Fair in Kwun Tong. Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. John Lee said that the Chinese New Year Fair was bustling with people, and the atmosphere was lively, reminding him of his warm memories of visiting flower markets with his family during childhood. Since the Chinese New Year's Eve is a reunion date for Chinese people, he hoped that everyone would have a warm and enjoyable reunion dinner with family members in the evening and joyfully welcome the new year. He also wished that citizens would achieve success and lead the way in the Year of the Horse.

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

At the entrance of the New Year Fair, many citizens greeted and waved to Mr. John Lee, shouting "Happy New Year" along the way. Mr. John Lee responded by wishing citizens "good health" and "all your wishes come true." At the first fair stall he passed, Mr. John Lee purchased some pussy willow at HKD $120. The stall owner, Ms. Yeung, said she recommended the pussy willow to Mr. John Lee since it symbolizes "abundant wealth" and "good fortune." She also praised the Chief Executive for his friendliness, noting that he arrived with a broad smile.

Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. John Lee said he specifically bought three genres of flowers at the fair: First, pussy willow, currently budding and poised to bloom in spring, symbolizing vitality; Second, solanum mammosum, signifying joy and peace; Third, orchids, known as the "noble flower". He mentioned that there are 14 Chinese New Year Fairs across Hong Kong this year, each with its own unique characteristics, featuring stalls selling dried goods, fresh products, food, etc., making him expect the fairs to become increasingly crowded as the night went on.

Pussy willow, Photo by Bastille Post

Solanum mammosum, Photo by Bastille Post

Orchid, Photo by Bastille Post

While visiting the fair, Mr. John Lee also chatted with several citizens, asking children about their New Year's wishes. Besides offering New Year's blessings, he expressed his belief that Hong Kong's economy will continue to improve steadily in the coming year, urging citizens to work together to build a better life. He also took photos with secondary school students on the site, urging them to participate more in community work and be filial to their parents. Stating that young people are the hope of the future, Mr. John Lee wished the students academic success and good health.

Mr. John Lee (middle), Miss Alice Mak (left) and Mr. Tse Chin Wan (right), Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. John Lee, Photo by Bastille Post

Some elderly citizens asked to take photos with Mr. John Lee, which he readily agreed to, with Miss Alice Mak taking the pictures for them. Some children even shouted "Happy New Year, Mr. John Lee!" three times, creating a lively atmosphere.

Mr. Tse Chin Wan, Photo by Bastille Post

Furthermore, Mr. Tse Chin Wan stated that the Chinese New Year Fairs will be open all night on the Chinese New Year's Eve, welcoming citizens to come and enjoy themselves after the reunion dinner. He pointed out that this year's fair has featured multiple characteristic photo spots, resulting in overall visitor flow better than last year, with total sales increasing by 30%. Besides, Mr. Tse also wished citizens a prosperous Year of the Horse.

Although the Chinese New Year holiday has passed, the Hong Kong Science Museum is still full of festive joy. Recently, a netizen shared on their social platform that the exhibits at the museum's permanent exhibition, "Extinction · Resilience" had been decorated for the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Photo source: FB image

The Exhibits have been Equipped with Festive Decorations

The arctic fox statue wears a vibrant red and white lion dance headdress, with a pair of knitted tangerines resting nearby. Another statue of a goat is also adorned with oranges, adding to the festive décor. Meanwhile, the lifelike animatronic Tyrannosaurus “Paul” playfully “holds” festive hanging charms and sways its body, bringing the scene to life and capturing everyone’s attention.

The arctic fox statue wears a vibrant red and white lion dance headdress. Photo source: FB image

The lifelike animatronic Tyrannosaurus “Paul” playfully “holds” festive hanging charms and sways its body. Photo source: FB image

The Exhibits have been Personally Decorated by the Staff

Such eye-catching decorations were thoughtfully installed by the staff of the Hong Kong Science Museum. The museum explained on social media that some of its exhibits would be adorned with Chinese New Year elements to create festive photo opportunities for visitors every year. The highlight exhibit, the lifelike animatronic Tyrannosaurus "Paul", has been "holding" festive hanging charms to extend New Year greetings to the public for consecutive years, which has become a Chinese New Year celebration tradition in the museum.

The eye-catching decorations were thoughtfully installed by the staff of the Hong Kong Science Museum. Photo source: FB image

Netizens Left Comments on Social Media and Praised the Museum's Creativity

Related photos and videos have gone viral online, with netizens leaving comments and praising the museum's creativity. Some said the strong festive atmosphere has turned the museum into a must-visit attraction in Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year. Some said "Paul" looked quite energetic and joyful with the decorations, while others even came up with some "inner monologues" for "Paul", such as "Rex: Wu~~~~Kung Hei Fat Choy!", "I wish you boundless energy!!!! Roar!!!!" The series of playful Chinese New Year decorations has not only added a festive touch to the exhibition, but also showcased the museum's people-friendly approach to blending education with entertainment.