On the evening of 29 November , 2024, Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) and Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) jointly held a grand gala dinner at the Hilton Singapore Orchard, themed “精诚携手，共拓新”. The event warmly welcomed Singapore’s Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lawrence Wong. Over 800 guests, primarily from the Chinese community, attended, marking a significant moment that highlighted the unity and cohesion of the Chinese community in Singapore.
Prime Minister Wong arrived at the gala dinner accompanied by a welcoming party and a captivating performance by the children’s troupe of Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre. Seated in the front row are the children’s dance troupe; from left to right in the back row : Ng Siew Quan, Chairman of Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre; Roland Ng San Tiong, Chairman of the Chinese Development Assistance Council; Kho Choon Keng, President of Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong; Thomas Chua, President of Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations; Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations; Lee Yi Shyan, Chairman of Enterprise Singapore; and Chua Thian Poh, Honorary President of both the SFCCA and SCCCI.
The banquet celebrated Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s inauguration as Singapore’s fourth Prime Minister and fostered deeper connections between the Chinese community and the government. The event was lively, with food, captivating performances, and rich cultural displays. Attendees expressed their shared hopes for the future and extended their heartfelt congratulations to Prime Minister Wong.
Speech by Thomas Chua, President of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations
In his speech, Thomas Chua, President of the SFCCA, highlighted the deep collaborative relationship between Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and the Chinese community. He emphasised the unique role played by the Chinese community in Singapore’s multicultural landscape. Mr Chua noted that during Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s tenure as Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, making it a crucial platform for preserving and promoting Chinese culture. Furthermore, under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s leadership, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, through the Cultural Matching Fund, has injected vitality into Chinese community activities, fostering the sustainable development of local culture.
Speech by Kho Choon Keng, President of Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Kho Choon Seng, President of SCCCI delivered a speech at a recent banquet, praising Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s leadership of Singapore’s fourth-generation government since 2022. He highlighted the numerous citizen-centric policies. He highlighted the numerous citizen-centric policies implemented under his leadership, including the “Forward Singapore” movement, promotion of mother tongue education, measures to alleviate cost-of-living pressures, and support for youth employment.
President Kho also expressed deep admiration and gratitude for the Prime Minister’s leadership abilities. He also emphasised the significance of next year, marking the 60th anniversary of Singapore’s founding. Calling on everyone to unite under shared values and work together, he stressed the importance of collective effort in contributing to Singapore’s long-term development.
Accompanied by Thomas Chua, President of SFCCA (left), and Kho Choon Keng, President of SCCCI (right), Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (centre) was presented with a ceramic artwork titled ‘The Sun, the Moon, and the Sparrows,’ created by young Singaporean ceramic artist Shayne Phua. This gift symbolises high recognition of his outstanding leadership and selfless contributions.
The organisers presented Prime Minister Lawrence Wong with a unique ceramic artwork titled ‘The Sun, the Moon, and the Sparrows‘. Created by young local artist, Shayne Phua, the piece features embossed reliefs of traditional Singaporean pastries, adorned with vibrant sparrows and floral patterns. The artwork symbolises the unity and strong values of Singapore’s Chinese community. Its sun and moon motifs represent the warm, harmonious atmosphere of the community and the beauty of Singapore’s multicultural society.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong presents his speech
In his speech, Prime Minister Wong reflected on the support and contributions of the Chinese community to the nation’s development, particularly their active efforts in social progress and cultural preservation. He emphasised that it is through the participation and contributions of the Chinese community that Singapore has achieved its current successes in economic, social, and cultural aspects. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated that the government will continue to work closely with the Chinese community to address future challenges together and provide more opportunities to ensure social harmony and the continued development of a multicultural society. Finally, he pledged that the government will uphold shared values and join hands with the Chinese community to contribute to Singapore’s prosperity and development. 。
Prime Minister Wong (sixth from the left) and President Thomas Chua (fifth from the left), President Kho Choon Keng (seventh from the left), Chairman Roland Ng (seventh from the right), Chairman Ng Siew Quan (fourth from the right), Chairman Lee Yi Shyan (fifth from the right), Minister Grace Fu (sixth from the right), and scholarship recipients from both SFCCA and SCCCI joined together to sing “We Will Get There” at the dinner.
The gala dinner themed “精诚携手，共拓新程 “ encapsulated the collective hope for Singapore’s future and celebrated the deep collaboration between the SFCCA and the SCCCI in driving cultural and social development. The event concluded on a high note with vibrant performances and cheerful camaraderie.
During the toast, from left to right: Ng Siew Quan, Chairman of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, Thomas Chua Kee Seng, President of SFCCA, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong, Kho Choon Keng, President of SCCCI, Roland Ng San Tiong, Chairman of the Chinese Development Assistance Council, Lee Yi Shyan, Chairman of Business China.
This banquet serves as both a celebration and a significant cultural exchange. Under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s leadership, the Chinese community in Singapore will continue to play a vital role in nation-building, working collaboratively with all ethnic groups to build a more prosperous society.
A group photo with Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong (middle), together with Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations (fifth from the left), Thomas Chua Kee Seng, President of SFCCA (sixth from the left), Kho Choon Keng, President of SCCCI (sixth from the right) , Chua Thian Poh, Honorary President of SFCCA and SCCCI, as well as representatives of the Chinese Community, SFCCA Council Members and SFCCA Scholars.
