Happy New Year
2024
新春獻詞
李顯龍總理按傳統在農曆新年除夕（2月9日）發表新春獻詞，借這個闔家團圓的節日，再次談到親情和家庭的可貴，鼓勵本地夫婦「多生早生」，趁今年添個龍寶寶。
李顯龍總理新春獻詞（華文）
2024年02月09日
農曆新年是華人一年之中最重要、最喜慶的傳統節日。今晚，我們將與家人團圓，辭舊迎新，迎春接福。旅居海外的國人，也會趁此時回國，與許久不見的摯愛的家人和朋友團聚。每逢過年，家家戶戶喜氣洋洋，迎接親朋好友上門拜年。孩子們興高采烈地一同玩耍，大人們則難得聚在一起閒話家常，互道祝福。在歡聲笑語中，彼此的關係也更近了。
正是這些過年的點點滴滴，讓我們意識到親情的可貴和家庭的重要性。家是我國社會的核心。家人更是我們每個人最堅固的後盾。他們會為我們的成功而喝彩，也會在我們遇到困境時在身邊為我們加油打氣。家庭在很大程度上塑造了我們的身份認同，也讓我們產生歸屬感和讓人生更有意義。家中長輩對晚輩的言傳身教，也讓優良的價值觀和傳統得以代代相傳。
對一個家庭來說，生兒育女是一件大事。從孩子呱呱墜地的那一刻起，父母最大的喜悅，就是看到他們一天天長大，不斷學習與成長，並走入人生的一個個裡程碑。即便是像我這樣已經做了祖父母的人，也能感受到這份快樂。我們含飴弄孫，把孫兒孫女捧在手心，對他們疼愛有加。我們也會協助兒女們帶大他們的孩子，讓育兒過程幸福美滿，充滿意義。
許多華人家庭相信，在龍年出生的孩子特別有福氣，因為龍是權威、力量和好運的象徵。所以，如果有更多年輕夫婦能趕在今年添一個龍寶寶，那就再好不過了。
我也明白，婚後要不要生孩子，始終是個人選擇。但我希望我的這番話，能夠鼓勵更多夫婦選擇生育。生育率下降，是世界各地所面對的問題。像新加坡這樣的發達社會，下降趨勢尤其顯著。每一代人的想法和願望都不一樣。許多年輕人著重發展事業或傾向享受二人世界，也有一些專注於實現其他的人生目標。即便是想要孩子的夫婦，也可能選擇延遲生育計劃。但他們沒有意識到自己年紀越大，養兒育女的挑戰也就越大。
他們的考量都是可以理解的。但我還是希望更多本地夫婦能夠多生早生，多子多福！
我們將致力於打造一個親家庭的新加坡，不斷協助國人實現結婚生子的人生目標。為此，我們逐步加強了育兒援助措施，並促進了工作與生活和諧，以便父母能夠陪伴孩子們度過成長的關鍵階段。最近，我們將政府所承擔的父親有薪陪產假，從兩個星期增加一倍到四個星期。僱主可自願決定是否要推行這個新措施。儘管這類措施有助於減輕家長的負擔，但它們也只能起到推動的作用。在決定要不要生孩子這件事情上，每對夫妻終究會有自己的考量。我希望更多國人會選擇開始踏上育兒之路，並深信他們將能夠從中體會為人父母的成就感和滿足感。
一元復始，萬象更新，讓我們以樂觀的心態和堅定的意志，邁入甲辰龍年。在此，我祝全體國人龍年吉祥，新年快樂，闔家安康！
李顯龍總理新春獻詞（英文版）
Chinese New Year is always a festive occasion. We gather tonight with our loved ones to welcome new beginnings and usher in good luck for the year ahead. It is also an opportunity for those living abroad to return home and reunite with loved ones. Our homes come alive with laughter and chatter as relatives visit, and children play enthusiastically with their cousins.
As we celebrate Chinese New Year, let us also celebrate our families. Families are at the heart of our society. Our families give us unwavering strength and support, cheer for us in our triumphs, and stand by us through adversity. They are a big part of our sense of identity, belonging, and purpose. Through our families, we pass on our aspirations and values from generation to generation.
One important element of family life is having and bringing up children. It is a great joy for parents to bring kids into this world, and to watch them learn and grow, reaching one milestone after another and growing up year by year. Grandparents, like me, share this joy too. We dote and fuss over our grandchildren, helping the parents to bring them up and contributing our part in this journey filled with happiness, purpose, and love.
Many Chinese families consider a child born in the year of the dragon to be especially auspicious, the dragon being a symbol of power, strength, and good fortune. So now is as good a time as any for young couples to add a 「little dragon」 to your family.
I hope my encouragement prompts more couples to try for a baby, although I know that the decision is a very personal one. All over the world, especially in developed societies like Singapore, fertility rates have been declining. Each generation has different aspirations. Many young people prioritise developing their careers, spending quality time with their partners, and pursuing other interests. Even couples who want kids may put off starting families, not realising how quickly it gets harder with each passing year.
All this is quite understandable. But I still hope that more Singaporean couples will decide to have more children, and to have them earlier!
We will build a 「Singapore Made For Families」, and continue supporting your marriage and parenthood aspirations. We have progressively strengthened support for infant caregiving and work-life harmony, to see parents through their children’s formative years. Recently we doubled Government-Paid Paternity Leave from two to four weeks on a voluntary basis. Measures like these will lighten the burden on parents, but they are merely enablers. Ultimately, couples will decide whether to have children for their own reasons. I hope more will decide to go ahead, and I am confident they will find parenthood a deeply rewarding and fulfilling journey.
Entering the Dragon year, let us press forward with optimism and determination. I wish all Singaporeans good health, and a very happy Chinese New Year.
