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Riding High into the Year of the Horse

As the Chinese New Year draws near, we warmly welcome the Year of the Horse with optimism, warmth and heartfelt blessings. I sincerely wish everyone a year filled with success, energy and prosperity. Today marks the 28^th day of the 12^th lunar month, and the city is alive with festive preparations. Taking the opportunity during the year-end, I extended early New Year greetings to members of the public. Yesterday, together with my colleagues, I visited two families and toured the Lunar New Year Fair at Victoria Park, where we shared our best wishes with the community.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has set up 14 Lunar New Year Fairs across various districts, each with unique local characteristics. Among them, the Victoria Park Fair remains the largest and most vibrant. Visitors were seen carefully selecting orchids, while others were drawn to the beauty of peach blossoms. The knowledgeable guidance of stallholders helped us choose and take care of festive flowers.

Yesterday I visited the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair to support local vendors through shopping and to extend my warmest wishes to members of the public.

While speaking with several stall operators, many shared that this year's fair felt livelier and more vibrant than the last one. Notably, some stalls were run by tertiary and secondary school students, who brought fresh energy and creativity to the event. These young entrepreneurs designed a range of horse-themed festive products and catchy slogans, blending seasonal charm with inventive ideas. From warming mugs and cushions to decorative items and handwritten couplets, their creations were not only visually appealing but also emotionally resonant — bringing joy to shoppers. Our young people are truly bursting with creativity!

Hong Kong's Chinese New Year celebrations encapsulate a unique blend of tradition and modern flair. With a wide array of large-scale events and performances, both residents and visitors have plenty to enjoy. Since the beginning of the year, visitor arrivals have continued to climb. From January 1 to last Friday, the total number of visitors reached 7.23 million — a 9.6% increase year-on-year — with overseas arrivals rising by 16.4%. During the upcoming Spring Festival Golden Week, the number of Mainland visitors to Hong Kong is expected to reach 1.43 million, with daily arrivals projected to grow by about 6% compared to last year.

Yesterday I visited the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair to support local vendors through shopping and to extend my warmest wishes to members of the public.

This coming Tuesday marks the first day of the Chinese New Year. During the three-day public holiday, a range of celebratory activities awaits. The dazzling float parade in Tsim Sha Tsui, under the theme of "Best Fortune. World Party.", will feature 16 local and overseas performance groups, 13 of which are making their debut in Hong Kong. Besides performances from the city's two major theme parks, this year's parade will also feature appearances from popular IP characters such as Labubu and Molly. The second day will feature a spectacular fireworks show under the theme of "Prosperity Gallops Across Hong Kong", with 31,888 fireworks lighting up the sky, accompanied by lighting effects for an enhanced viewing experience.

From the New Year Raceday on the third day to the Chinese New Year Cup 2026 football match on the fifth day, and the bustling traditional temples across districts, Hong Kong will be filled with celebrations throughout the festive period.

Yesterday, I also paid visits to two families in Kennedy Town to deliver New Year greetings.

As we bid farewell to the Snake and welcome the Horse, may the New Year bring you great fortune, good health, blooming prosperity and boundless happiness!

February 15, 2026