I am very happy to be here tonight to witness the inauguration ceremony for the 27^th term of Council Members of the Singapore Kwangtung Hui Kuan. I am also glad to note that many representatives from your subsidiary Hui Kuans are also present to join in tonight’s celebrations.

2 Since its establishment 60 years ago in 1939, the Kwangtung Hui Kuan has grown and flourished. Today the Kwangtung Hui Kuan, together with its subsidiary Hui Kuans, have a total membership of over 20,000.

3 In its early days, the Hui Kuan was set up primarily as a self help group, giving support to its less successful members, extending help to those who were sick or destitute, and finding jobs for newly arrived fellow countrymen who had come seeking a new life.

4 Over the past 60 years, as Singapore evolved from what was a British colony, into an independent, multi-racial nation, your Hui Kuan has successfully changed and adapted its activities to meet the different needs of a modern society.

5 Kwangtung Hui Kuan was one of the founder members of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Association which was established in 1986. More recently, the Chinese Development Assistance Council came into operation in 1995 and your Hui Kuan donated generously to this self-help organisation and actively participated in its social, educational and cultural activities.

6 Mr Cheong Wing has been your Hui Kuan’s President for 7 terms since 1985. He and his Committees have always looked forward to do their best for the Hui Kuan during the past 14 years. They have even organised conferences and celebrations in Singapore to which members of Kwangtung Hui Kuans from all over the world were invited, in the hope that by showcasing Singapore, many may decide to invest in Singapore.

6 As we move into the next millennium, our long-term vision under Singapore 21 is to build a successful, cohesive, and multi-racial nation. I believe that many of your Council Members are also community grassroots leaders. I sincerely hope that all of you will make an extra effort, in full co-operation with the Community Development Councils and Citizens’ Consultative Committees, to make this vision of Singapore 21 come true.

7 Finally, may I wish all of you good health and good fortune on all your endeavours.