Happy Chinese New Year Message from Sadiq Khan
Chinese New Year is a time to celebrate with friends and family, reflect on the past year and look forward to the future. As we mark the start of the Year of the Monkey, let us also celebrate the many contributions of London’s Chinese community which enrich our lives in this city.
My story is one that will be familiar to many in the Chinese community. My parents came to London in the 1960s, my dad working hard as a bus driver while my mum sewed clothes. They provided for me and my brothers and sisters as we grew up on our London council estate. I worked hard at school and university and after qualifying as a lawyer I set up my own law firm and helped build a successful business from scratch. I still live locally with my wife, bringing up our two daughters.
This year, I am running to serve you as London Mayor. I want all Londoners to have the same opportunities that our city gave me and my family: a home they can afford, a HIGH-skilled job with decent pay, an affordable and modern transport system and a safe, clean and healthy environment.
As your Mayor I will:
- Continue to support annual Chinese New Year celebrations to promote Chinese culture
- Work with the Chinese business community and Westminster Council to secure the future of Chinatown as a hub for Chinese business and the community, as part of a wider strategy to protect and expand space for business across London
- Work with London’s business community to promote economic links with China and East Asia
- Introduce a zero-tolerance approach to racist hate crimes, and ensure the police have the resources they need
- Work with London’s Chinese community leaders to promote understanding and build closer links
- Support the Chinese community’s call for a London Memorial for the 95,000 Chinese Labour Corps members, whose contribution to Britain during the First World War has yet to be properly commemorated
I wish you and your family good health, prosperity and happiness this Chinese New Year. London is the greatest city in the world. Together let’s make it even better.
Best wishes,
Sadiq Khan
2016 倫敦市長候選人簡薩迪 (Sadiq Khan)
向華人社區賀年
新春廸吉，紫氣東來；送羊迎猴，感謝華人社區為我城增添無窮貢獻和魅力。
我的成長故事和很多華人家庭相似；我的父母在1960年代移居倫敦，父親是巴士司機，母親是車衣女工。我的兄弟姊妹都在倫敦出生，住政府平民屋。倫敦讓我們這般平凡的家庭有機會力爭上游，接受大學教育，為自己理想而奮鬥。我是合格律師，白手興家創立了自己的律師樓。我的妻子也是倫敦人，我們育有兩名女兒。我誠心渴望回饋這個美麗的城市。
角逐倫敦市長重任: 我會致力創造平等機會、供應廉租樓宇、提供高技術職位、合理薪酬、現代化而便宜的公共交通系统、一個健康和清潔的環境。
上任倫敦市長我會承諾：
- 繼續支持華人新年節慶活動發揚中華文化
- 與華商及西敏市政府攜手打造唐人街地標，輻蓋倫敦
- 與倫敦商界致力提昇與東南亞及中國經濟聯繫
- 嚴正處理種族岐視罪案，保障警力足夠
- 和華人社區領袖加強溝通互動
- 支持籌建一戰倫敦紀念碑以誌九萬五千名華工事蹟
華人社會勤奮向上的精神給我極大啓蒙；際此猴年春禧，祝禱閣下闔府安康，一帆風順。倫敦是世界上最美麗的城市，我們一起努力，讓倫敦光芒萬丈。