Foreign consulates in Hong Kong have wished residents a happy Year of the Pig in a series of Cantonese-language video clips.
French Consul General Alexandre Giorgini said it was his first Lunar New Year in Hong Kong, as he went out to buy decorations for the festival season.
Giorgini showed interest in a portrait of Kwan Kung, who a passer-by introduced as an ancient Chinese general known for bravery and protection. In turn, he introduced Napoleon – a French general turned emperor.
“I hope you will all be protected by Kwan Kung and Napoleon this year,” he said. “I wish you an auspicious and healthy Year of the Pig.”
Canadian Consul General Jeff Nankivell cooked Canadian products for his colleagues in his video. But as he finished, his staff told him that they were vegetarian.
Nankivell said it was not a problem as Canada is an inclusive and diverse country with vegetarian pork products on offer: “We wish all of you a prosperous and healthy Year of the Pig,” he said.
US Consul General Kurt Tong and his wife appeared in a video to introduce the upcoming Year of Earth Pig, which only occurs every 60 years. They showed a cartoon clip imagining Hong Kong in 1899 and 1959, saying that the US Consulate General has been in Hong Kong for more than 170 years.
“We wish you a happy new year and good health,” they said.
UK Vice Consul Martin Badham was also spending his first Lunar New Year in Hong Kong, as he visited Pottinger Street, also known as Stone Slab Street, to gather some festive goods.
German Consul General Dieter Lamlé went to Sham Shui Po to buy traditional clothes and decorations for the year. He also bought a huge plush pig, as he and his wife joined a mahjong game at a friend’s house.
“This was my first mahjong game, and I like it very very much. I was happy to win. I can say ‘sik wu’ for the first time in my life,” he said. “We wish you good fortune.”
