For the first time, Singaporeans at home and abroad will be able to experience the colour, pomp, and pageantry of Chinese New Year online through @SpringFest. On from 12 February to 2 March 1999, @SpringFest is an initiative ...
Singapore, 3 February 1999 | For Immediate Release
For the first time, Singaporeans at home and abroad will be able to experience the colour, pomp, and pageantry of Chinese New Year online through @SpringFest. On from 12 February to 2 March 1999, @SpringFest is an initiative by the National Chinese Internet Programme and Singapore ONE to extend the festivities of Chinese New Year online. In doing so, the organisers hope to encourage more pervasive use of Singapore ONE and the Internet by both the English and Chinese speaking communities.
Highlights of @SpringFest include bilingual information on Chinese New Year beliefs and practices, and the origin and significance of the Rabbit Year. Visitors can find a calendar of Chinese New Year activities including online activities. It will carry online activities, contests and tournaments including Electronic Greeting Cards, a Chinese New Year Greetings Board, a Chinese New Year Sale, an Online Charity Auction, Weekly Story Writing Competition, Weekly Couplet Competition for Schools, an @SpringClean Bazaar and an online Mahjong Tournament. Users can take part in these online activities from the @SpringFest website at http://chinese.s-one.net.sg/springfest or http://s-one.net.sg/springfest.
@SpringFest Launch
@SpringFest will be officially launched by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong at the Singapore River HongBao '99 Light-up at the Marina Promenade on 12 February '99. The Prime Minister will also post his Chinese New Year greetings on the @SpringFest Festive Bulletin Board. Singaporeans at home and overseas will be able to receive instantaneously the Prime Minister's bilingual greetings through the Internet and Singapore ONE.
Singapore River HongBao '99 Highlights and Webcasts
For the first time, highlights of the Singapore River HongBao '99 at the Marina Promenade will be brought to life on the Internet through delayed webcasts @SpringFest. Viewers will be able to see demonstrations of Beijing handicraft, enjoy dance performances by troupes from Beijing, and watch the fireworks display at the Singapore River HongBao '99.
@SpringFest Sale
Festive shoppers will be able to shop online in the comfort of their homes, and enjoy special discounts on items such as festive hampers, flowers, fruits, Chinese New Year groceries and books. Some 18 merchants are participating in this online sale, including well-known household names like Cold Storage, Mustafa, NTUC Fairprice and Provision Suppliers Corporation.
@SpringClean Bazaar
With spring-cleaning round the corner, @SpringFest presents an innovative platform for the sale of old furniture or electrical goods and the purchase of cheap second-hand items. Visitors can grab bargains at a steal or place their own items up for sale at the @SpringClean Bazaar.
Weekly Story Writing Competition (English and Chinese)
Budding writers are invited to send in their stories built around the theme of the Year of the Rabbit. Two prizes, comprising of a SingTel Magix Hi-speed internet kit together with a free one-month SingTel Magix subscription each, will be given out each week.
Weekly Couplet Competition for Schools
Students will have a chance to test their knowledge of auspicious Chinese couplets, or ChunLian, through the Couplet Competition for Schools. Five rabbit coin sets will be given away for the five most complete and correct answers each week. The top three schools with the most number of correct entries will win a virtual trophy plus a set of Chinese Pen and Keyboard Input Tools software worth S$300 each.
CoolHot Mahjong Tournament
Mahjong enthusiasts are invited to pit their skills against the best at this online mahjong tournament with a difference. No money changes hands at this game as it is free for all. Prizes include an Acer Aspire Multimedia PC worth S$1,999, a Canon printer, an Intel personal gift pack and more.
Other Activities
Other highlights of @SpringFest include a Charity Auction, Rabbit Year Fortunes and Chinese New Year Electronic Greeting Cards (with more than 32 cards to choose from). In the spirit of Chinese New Year, @SpringFest will be giving out red packets with exclusive rabbit-year coin sets to 3 lucky well-wishers and recipients.
Ms Angela Wee, Programme Manager of the National Chinese Internet Programme (NCIP) at the National Computer Board (NCB), said, "The Internet is a natural channel to connect people. @SpringFest provides an online platform for Singaporeans both at home and abroad to interact and join in the festive celebrations."
A summary of @SpringFest activities is attached in Appendix I.
JOINTLY ISSUED BY NATIONAL CHINESE INTERNET PROGRAMME (NCIP) SECRETARIAT
Note to Editor:
The National Chinese Internet Programme (NCIP) is spearheaded by National Computer Board (NCB), National Science & Technology Board (NSTB), Ministry of Information & the Arts (MITA) and Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA).
For further information on @SpringFest, please contact:
MITA
Ng Siew Hong (Ms) or Ng Eng Ping
NCIP Secretariat NCIP Secretariat
Tel: 375 7762 Tel: 838 9362
Fax: 271 8489 Fax: 738 5518
email: ng_siew_hong@mita.gov.sg Email: ng_eng_ping@mita.gov.sg
@SpringFest Calendar of Events
http://chinese.s-one.net.sg/springfest or http://s-one.net.sg/springfest
Get into the spirit of Chinese New Year. Catch the various activities online, and be part of the colour, pomp, and pageantry!
| Online Activity | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Singapore River Hong Bao | First-ever River Hong Bao to go on-line. Webcast of various activities and highlights. |
| @SpringFest SALE | Beat the crowd! Get your Chinese New Year shopping done in the comfort of your home. Participating merchants: Chinese Business Network, Cold Storage, Confetti Flowers & Hampers, Cybersource, Cybermart, Federal Publications, House of Wicks & Wax, Health Online, Internet Shopping Network, Joaquim Florists & Gifts, Mustafa, Net Megastore, NTUC Fairprice, Nanyang Optical, NIBS, Provision Suppliers Corporation, ST 4M, SingTel Yellow Pages and Touches Flowers. |
| @SpringFest CHARITY AUCTION with PI Auctions Till 26 Feb |
Bid for a set of calligraphy couplets drawn by well-known local calligrapher, Mr Khoo Seow Hwa (Qiu Shao Hua) or items contributed by other merchants at the PI Auctions. Proceeds will go to the Children's Charities Association. |
| @SpringClean Bazaar | An on-line garage sale. Grab bargain items, or place your own items up for sale. |
| CoolHot Mahjong Tournament From 15 Feb |
Pit your skills against the best at Acer's CoolHot web-sitehttp://www.coolhot.com. Play for free and win an Acer Aspire Multimedia PC worth S$1,999, a Canon printer, an Intel personal gift pack and more. |
| Weekly Story Writing Competition (English and Chinese) | Spin us a good tale about the Year of the Rabbit and win a SingTel Magix Hi-speed internet kit and 1-month free subscription. |
| Weekly Couplet (ChunLian) Competition for Schools | Complete each set of couplet and win a Rabbit year coin set worth S$30. Special prizes worth S$300 each for the top three schools with the most number of correct entries. |
| Weekly Lantern Riddles | Solve the riddles and win a Rabbit year coin set worth S$30. |
| Chinese Animal Zodia | Check your fortunes in the Rabbit year online, provided by Fulu Geomancy. |
| Calendar of Activities | Check out the various Lunar New Year activities on Calendar ONE. Other Attractions! Get a SingTel Magix Hi-speed internet kit (S$98) online and enjoy an extra 3- hour free usage when you subscribe to the S$35 Magix package. Sign up now at http://www.singtel-magix.com.sg. Register as a member of the Singapore ONE Community (http://community.s-one.net.sg) or the Chinese Webtop, HuaZong Wang (http://chinese.s-one.net.sg) and get a Free 6MB homepage space plus a pack of limited edition @SpringFest Hong Baos! Membership is FREE. Open to all Internet users. |
Special thanks to participating partners:
Acer Computer Int'l, Calendar ONE, Celebrity Music, Children's Charities Association, Chinese Business Network, Fulu Geomancy, Khoo Seow Hwa (Qiu Shao Hua), Mediaworks Pacific Internet, People's Association, Promote Mandarin Council, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Association, Singapore Press Holdings, Singapore Tourism Board, SingTel Magix and UOB Card Centre.Brought to you by:
National Chinese Internet Programme and Singapore ONE.webp)