By Victor Chen, bostonese.com
Boston, March 1, 2015, — Mayor Martin Walsh attended the Chinese New Year banquet of Chinese Merchants Association (CMA) at China Pearl restaurant in Boston Chinatown tonight. Mayor Walsh and board members of the CMA led three toasts for health, booming business and family harmony for the Chinese New Year of Sheep.
Mayor Walsh toasts with CMA board members (photos by Victor Chen).
State Treasurer Deb Goldberg, Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins, Boston City Councilor Bill Linehan, Boston Police Commissioner Paul Evans and other state and city officials also stopped by to greet CMA members and guests. The impromptus dance by Goldberg and Tompkins to the tune of an Elvis song performed by Linehan brought smiles on faces of all the guests.
Scott Lai, Director-General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston, Hung Goon, president of CCBA-NE, and other distinguished guests wished CMA continued success in the new year. Over 200 guests enjoyed an evening of fine dinning and music and dances.
The On Leong Chinese Merchants Association or simply Chinese Merchants Association, formerly known as the On Leong Tong, was first established in New York City in 1893. Currently, there are over 30,000 registered On Leong members nationally, the majority of them with a commercial or industrial background.