I regret to tell you that I cannot but cancel my trip back to Sydney at the last moment due to my wife’s health condition. Please accept my apology for my absence tonight from this Christmas party. Yet my heart is always with you and I hope you will have a wonderful evening tonight.

I would like to express my special thanks to Virginia Judge, who cut short her family reunion with her husband and daughter in Beijing and flew back to join us tonight. Thank you, Virginia.

2007 is approaching its end. The year 2007 has witnessed the active involvement in over 50 projects and activities by ACPPRC in the promotion of peaceful reunification of China and in the development of friendly relations between Australia and China. To mention just one significant event, ACPPRC continued its "Eyes on China" free medical mission to Inner Mongolia. In three days time, 408 cases had been successfully carried out, a record since Eyes on Tibet, in 2003. The mission is completed with success. To accomplish this mission, the "Eyes on China-Inner Mongolia" Charity Gala Dinner was held, at which H.E. Qiu Shao fang, Consul General of PRC and Hon. Philip Ruddock, former Attorney General were also present. Without your support, the mission couldn’t have been so successful. Thank you, Consul General, Thank you, Hon Philip Ruddock.

This year's medical team consisted of 27 eye surgeons and other medical specialists and personnel from Australia and China’s mainland and Taiwan, most of whom are here with us tonight. In particular, Dr. Wu Lei and Dr. Zhou Li, came from China to join us. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to them, a warm welcome to Dr. Wu and Dr. Zhou. And wish you a very pleasant trip in Australia.

My special gratitude also goes to the Senior Honorary chairmen and honorary chairmen whose generous donations are a sure guarantee of the successful completion of this year medical mission to Inner Mongolia.

Thanks to my colleagues and committee members of ACPPRC for your selfless contributions and to friends from all walks of life for your continuous support.

2008 will see the convening of the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing, China and a series of events and shows in Australia to present to the Australian people with a comprehensive picture of China’s development in economy, culture, science, education and other fields.

On 15 February, 2008, ACPPRC will host Hunan TV Super boys and Super girls Concert in Sydney Entertainment Centre, with All China Association of Returned Overseas Chinese as the chief sponsor. I am sure this will continue to win your support.

Present at tonight’s party are many friends from the Taiwanese community in Sydney. On behalf of ACPPRC, I would like to extend my warm welcome to you all. It is our consistent belief that overseas Chinese, no matter whether from the Mainland or from Taiwan of China, or from other countries or regions, should strengthen their liaison, enhance their mutual understanding to strive for harmony and mutual development. I hope there will be more exchanges between us in the future.

A favorable mention should be made to our Children’s Chinese Classic Recital Classes run by ACPPRC in association with Fujian Society. They started with a few dozens of children and expand to several hundreds to date. The children can recite a whole book of Chinese classic in a couple of months time. This is marvelous, it is entirely due to the hard work of all volunteer teachers. Many of them are here with us tonight. Thank you, all the teachers.

To conclude, I would like to wish you and your family a merry Christmas and happy New Year!