S’pore will continue to be stable and prosperous if Govt and people work together: PM Wong

SINGAPORE – Singapore will continue to be a stable and prosperous country if the Government and people work closely together amid global uncertainties.

Likening the current global situation to Singapore’s recent weather, with its dark clouds and frequent rain, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said: “Even with the stormy weather, we need not worry. I am confident that we can walk hand in hand ahead... and our tomorrow will definitely be better.”

PM Wong, who is also Minister for Finance, was speaking in Mandarin at the opening ceremony of River Hongbao 2025 at Gardens by the Bay on Jan 27.

“This year is a special year,” he said. “We will be having our general election.”

He quipped, to laughter from the audience: “Many people have asked me when the election is. I can say that it’s definitely in the Year of the Snake.”

PM Wong, who was accompanied by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, added that 2025 is also SG60, a good opportunity for Singaporeans to reflect on the past and look ahead to a new chapter.

With the strike of a gong by PM Wong after his address, a thunderous crackle of 60 strands of firecrackers opened the event with a bang, a tribute to Singapore’s 60 years of independence.

A staple Chinese New Year gala yearly since 1987, River Hongbao attracted 1.01 million visitors in 2024.

This year’s festivities will be held till Feb 5. The event will be open from 6.30pm on Jan 28 to 12.15am the next day, and include a countdown ceremony to welcome the Year of the Snake, which begins on Jan 29.

From Jan 29 to Feb 5, the event will be held from 2.30pm to 10.30pm. Admission is free.

For those who missed the firecrackers on the opening day of River Hongbao 2025 at The Meadow, there will be 30 strands of firecrackers on each of the second and third nights – Jan 28 and 29.

Two

SG60-themed large lantern displays

are among the over 20 dazzling lantern sets illuminating the Gardens during this period. They are The Lion City at Supertree Grove, and Joyful Years Ahead at Dragonfly Lake.

A perennial crowd-puller is the 18m-tall God of Fortune lantern display at The Meadow, the Gardens’ space for large-scale outdoor events. Holding a giant bun overflowing with gold coins and surrounded by large gold ingots, he confers blessings of wealth and prosperity on all visitors.

There will also be live entertainment by local and

overseas performers

, displays of Chinese calligraphy and paintings, a food street, carnival rides, and interactive games both online and on-site.

An exhibition, Greetings From Afar: Chinese Remittance Letters, provides a window into the lives of early Chinese migrants in Singapore, particularly through Chinese New Year remittance letters from the 20th century.

It is a joint collaboration between the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall (Singapore) and Fujian Provincial Archives of China.

Complementing River Hongbao 2025 is a floral display at Gardens by the Bay’s Flower Dome, where a 4.5m-tall floral rendition of Madam White Snake from the popular Chinese folk tale Legend Of The White Snake greets visitors. Themed “Spring Blossoms”, the display features over 1,000 dahlias, symbolising prosperity and new beginnings.

River Hongbao 2025 is organised by the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SPH Media’s Chinese Media Group, the Singapore Tourism Board and People’s Association.

Mr Chin Kiau Huat, a 78-year-old retired driving instructor who has been visiting River Hongbao annually since it first started, was among the visitors who flocked to the opening ceremony on Jan 27.

The Bukit Batok resident, who was soaking in the festive spirit alone, said he was ushering in the Year of the Snake with fellow visitors.

“Compared with past venues like The Float @ Marina Bay, the Gardens is a bigger place which can hold many more visitors,” he said.

More information can be found at 

riverhongbao.sg