While many of us are lamenting about returning to work after the Chinese New Year (CNY) long weekend holiday break, you have to feel for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

He was also visiting and hosting people during the CNY period, but they are not exactly his relatives or family members.

Day 1 of CNY

PM Lee and union leaders greeted workers at Senoko Energy in Woodlands.

According to Channel NewsAsia, it has become a tradition for key union leaders to visit working people in the key services sector during CNY since 1999.

And PM Lee usually accompanied the leaders, so that he can thank Singaporeans personally for putting their work and duties ahead of holidays and personal celebrations.

This year, he visited the Senoko Energy workers and couldn't resist a pun when he urged Singaporeans not to forget "their ‘power’-ful efforts".

With the economic slowdown a concern for many Singaporeans, PM Lee told the media that the government is not only monitoring retrenchment numbers, but also the number of people getting re-employed.

Day 2 of CNY

PM Lee usually played host as he opened his home to his working staff, grassroots leaders and volunteers.

This is another tradition for PM Lee, who will take the opportunity to thank his volunteers and staff for their efforts.

It is usually a lunch buffet, with PM Lee distributing mandarin oranges and souvenirs as the volunteers and staff visit him.

This year, PM Lee decided to do a pun fun photoshot, performing a jumpshot and wishing everyone 步步高升 (translation: to rise steadily in one's life journey).

Anyway, here is how PM Lee spent his Chinese New Year holidays over the years, since he started his Facebook page in April 2012.

Chinese New Year 2016

PM Lee visited staff working on Chinese New Year at the Changi Airport to thank them for keeping operations running like clockwork on the ground and in the air.

After his visit, Lee participated in a lo-hei session and was presented with a surprise birthday cake.

This was because he would turn 64 in two days' time on Feb 10.

Chinese New Year 2015

It was one of the few times that PM Lee missed his tradition of visiting Singaporeans working on the first day of CNY.

Lee, who was recovering from an operation to have his prostate gland removed, shared his CNY greetings on FB instead, saying, "I'm sorry that I’m not able to be up and about this new year. And that’s why I’m recording this now, before my operation".

Chinese New Year 2014

PM Lee visited officers from the Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force at the Queenstown Neighbourhood Police Centre and Alexandra Fire Station.

He thanked them for keeping the neighbourhood safe during this festive season.

Chinese New Year 2013

PM Lee celebrated CNY with 200 nurses, doctors and staff at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

He visited some patients and thanked the TTSH staff for being "our silent workers" and working around the clock.

Again, he celebrated his birthday on the same day.

Happy Lunar New Year to you, PM Lee.

Top photo by Lee Hsien Loong Facebook

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