Dr Robert Loh, President of National Council of Social Service,

Dr Richard Eu, Chairman of Community Chest,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening.

The festive Lunar New Year is here again. We are glad to be able to celebrate it as we have done in the previous years. It has always been an appropriate occasion where Chinese traditions, values and customs are reinforced. We pay respects to our elders, we greet relatives and friends with joy. Most of all, we instil and teach our children good family values and social morals, like respect, filial piety, sharing and caring for the less fortunate in our society.

I would say, Singaporeans are very fortunate as we can always look forward to the Lunar New Year celebration. No doubt, many do feel the new year spirit, but not all have the means to celebrate it like the way we do. Thus the physically or mentally disabled, the elderly and destitute, youth at risks and people from dysfunctional homes will need your spirit of generosity to help meet their needs.

The Lunar New Year Hong Bao Box, organised by Community Chest, the fund-raising division of the National Council of Social Service (NCSS), is aimed at promoting sharing and caring among Singaporeans. This project provides a convenient means for the public to contribute to the less fortunate in Singapore and it has raised over $1.6 million since it started in 1993.

This year, Community Chest hopes to raise half a million dollars for almost 179,000 beneficiaries from 50 charities funded by NCSS through Heartstrings Hong Bao. From now till 25 January, volunteers from Pu Ti Lian She Cultural Society will be collecting hong baos at People’s Park Complex as well as 20 other locations island wide.

We look forward to your fullest support in making this possible and do remember, charity is never measured by the dollar amount and a dollar raised is a dollar closer to the target. Hence, please visit these hong bao donation boxes and donate generously to the less fortunate in Singapore.

On behalf of all the benefiting members, I would like to commend Pu Ti Lian She for their ardent support and hard work. I wish everyone a healthy, prosperous, harmonious and happy new year.

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