Good evening, everyone, and welcome to our Chinese New Year reception and to the exciting parade that will soon be starting.
I’d like firstly to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, the traditional custodians of this land.
I would also like to acknowledge special guests.
Chongqing has brought the fifth contingent of performers we have welcomed to our Chinese New Year celebrations, and I look forward to seeing their 300 artists adding to the excitement of the 2010 Parade.
This year, in addition to the many Chinese community groups who form the backbone of our parade, we are also welcoming contingents from our Korean and Vietnamese communities.
For some years now, our Chinese New Year has been the biggest Lunar New Year celebration outside Asia. Bringing in our local Korean and Vietnamese communities will only add to its richness.
These three weeks will see a spectacular array of events for families, for arts lovers and for sports fans. We have had our marvellous markets in Belmore Park last weekend, dragon boat races and other sporting events next weekend, and many activities designed especially for families.
Sydney is home to people of 200 different nationalities, and the Chinese New Year celebrations attract many of them – not only our Chinese families.
Tonight, we are staging what is only our second Twilight Parade and it promises to be our most spectacular yet. It will finish with a display of fireworks at Darling Harbour which I know you will enjoy.
I would like to thank the Consul-General for the People’s Republic of China, Hu Shan, the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Government of Chongqing for their support of Sydney’s Chinese New Year.
I also thank our many sponsors for their generosity; all the community groups who prepare so keenly for the event, and our Chinese New Year Advisory Group, chaired by Councillor Robert Kok, for all their assistance and City of Sydney staff.
Finally, I would like to thank our guests from Chongqing for bringing their skills and artistry to delight us all, and I wish them an enjoyable stay in our City.
Have a great night, everyone. Kung Hei Fat Choy!
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