Chinese New Year Message 2022 by PM Lee Hsien Loong

Please scroll down to read the Message in Chinese.

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Tomorrow night, we will gather with our loved ones to send off the Year of the Ox and usher in the Year of the Tiger. Some of us will celebrate with our families, while others will get together with friends and neighbours who have become family. This is the essence of Chinese New Year, which is about our families and loved ones. We share our joys and celebrate with them in good times, and look to them for support and comfort during difficult periods.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, families have been unable to get together as much as we would have liked, especially those with loved ones abroad. With Vaccinated Travel Lanes opened and international travel progressively resuming, hopefully more families can reunite and celebrate Chinese New Year together this year. Large gatherings will have to wait a little longer, as the Omicron variant has forced us to maintain strict measures. But I know many of us have done our best to adapt, and learnt to stay connected through the internet. Many families will be organising virtual meetups effortlessly at the touch of a button, and livening them up with online fun and games. Look out for the “uncles” and “aunties” who have become experts at snapping virtual wefies!

PM Lee Hsien Loong and PM Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the launch of the Vaccinated Travel Lane (Land) scheme between Singapore and Malaysia on 29 November 2021. (MCI Photo by Fyrol)

Even as we gather and celebrate in the festive period, we must continue to exercise social responsibility and take precautions. After all, we care for our loved ones by keeping them safe. Please remember to adhere to safe management measures, and keep up basic hygiene practices such as washing hands and using common utensils when sharing food. If you feel under the weather please stay at home, isolate yourself and get ample rest, just in case you are infected. There will be ample time to catch up on New Year visiting after you recover.

Getting vaccinated is another important way to keep our families safe. We started vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 at the turn of the year and have seen a good response. If your child still has not gotten his jab, please take him to the nearest vaccination centre soon. Vaccinations are safe and effective. They reduce your chances of contracting COVID-19, and more importantly greatly lower the risk of serious complications, including for the Omicron variant. This is true for everyone – not just young children and teenagers, but also and especially the frail and the elderly. So please encourage all your family members, young or old, to get vaccinated, and get booster shots when eligible. It is both for their own protection, and to protect others.

Meeting Teck Ghee residents and families. (MCI Photo by Ngau Kai Yan)

Chinese New Year is also a time to look out for all things auspicious. While COVID-19 initially caused a dip in the number of weddings, I am glad many couples have since gone ahead with their plans. After two years of COVID-19, marriages in Singapore have “caught up” and returned to pre-pandemic levels. Birth numbers have fallen slightly, but not as much as we had feared. COVID-19 or not, parents and grandparents still greatly look forward to welcoming new arrivals. The infants bring joy and warmth to the whole family, and carry our hopes and dreams for a brighter tomorrow.

Celebrating the birth of made-in-Singapore giant panda cub - Le Le 叻叻. (Mandai Wildlife Group Photo)

The Government strongly supports Singaporeans who want to start and raise families. The Baby Support Grant, which provides parents some financial relief during the pandemic, is just one example. I hope that marriage and birth numbers will come roaring back in the Year of the Tiger.

In the new year, let us work together to resolutely overcome the pandemic with the strength of the Tiger, and seize new opportunities to build a better Singapore with the boldness of the beast.

I wish all Singaporeans good health, and a very happy Chinese New Year.

Lantern display at Gardens by the Bay. (MCI Photo by Fyrol)

2022 年李显龙总理新春献词

明晚就是除夕夜，也是人们欢聚一堂送走牛年、迎来虎年的时刻。无论我们是和家人团圆，或是与胜似亲人的好友和邻居共度佳节，希望大家都能沉浸在亲情和友情的温暖中，并且珍惜身边和我们同甘共苦、风雨同舟的人。

冠病疫情导致过去两年我们和亲友少了许多见面的机会，分隔两地的家人更是难以团聚。但如今有了疫苗接种者旅游通道，国际旅游正在逐步复苏，希望这能让更多人有机会回家过年。另一方面，奥密克戎变种毒株的出现，使我们被迫继续实行严格的防疫措施，暂时不能放宽社交聚会的人数限制，以防止病毒传播。尽管疫情为生活带来不少变化，许多人还是抱着乐观的心态，尽全力适应新常态。就算不能上门拜年，我们也能利用科技的便利，在弹指间和更多亲友在网上相聚，甚至能通过线上游戏或有趣的元素，为传统习俗增添新意和年味。一些和我年纪相仿的朋友也成为了网上的“群拍”高手，而且技术一点也不输给年轻人！

新年期间，大家与亲友同欢共乐时，也要继续负起社会责任，谨慎防疫。毕竟，亲人的健康和安全才是最重要的。因此，请记得遵守安全管理措施和注意个人卫生，包括勤洗手以及在聚餐时使用公筷公勺。如果身体不适，千万不要出门，也不要接待访客，以免在无意间传播病毒。生病了就要好好休息，等身体康复后再去拜年也不迟。

要保护一家大小免受冠病感染，接种疫苗也很重要。自去年底开始，我们逐步为5岁至11岁的儿童接种疫苗，接种工作进展良好。如果您的孩子还没有接种疫苗，请尽快让孩子接种。疫苗是安全和有效的，能降低染病的风险，保护所有的人， 包括孩童以及年长者。更重要的是，即使不幸感染了包括奥密克戎在内的毒株，患重症的风险也会大大减少。因此，我吁请各位鼓励自己的家人，不论老少，都去接种疫苗，符合条件的人士也应该去接种追加剂。这样既能保护自己，也能保护身边的人。

农历新年期间，大家更是期盼着万象更新。虽然疫情一开始导致结婚的人数有所减少，但令我欣慰的是，许多情侣过后都按照计划完成终身大事。经过这两年的疫情，结婚的人数已恢复到疫情前的水平了。我国的出生人数虽略有下降，但幅度没有预想的那么大。其实，无论有没有出现疫情，家里添了新成员，长辈们如父母和爷爷奶奶等都会感到兴奋。宝宝的到来，给全家人带来了欢乐和温暖，也给国家带来了美好的希望和璀璨的未来。

政府一直以来都大力支持国人生儿育女，例如在疫情期间，我们也发放了育婴补贴，帮助一些父母减轻经济负担。我希望来年的虎年，看到更多的国人结婚报喜，开枝散叶。

在新的一年里，让我们借助祥虎的勇武威猛，携手抗疫，并且把握新的机遇，共同建设一个更美好的新加坡。

在此，我祝全体国人阖家安康，新年快乐。

春到河畔 River Hongbao at Gardens by the Bay. (MCI Photo by Fyrol)