China: Mahua Dang, chairman of Tencent Group, for the first time in nearly 20 years, did not give red packets to employees amid concerns about pneumonia virus.

Tencent, one of the world's five largest corporations, based in Shenzhen, will cancel the tradition of giving lucky money to employees on the first day of work after the New Year holiday, on February 1, according to a statement. announced on their social media accounts yesterday.

The notice did not specify the reason for canceling the lucky money but reminded employees to stay healthy during Tet. Tencent also did not mention the lucky money for employees through its WeChat. A Tencent spokesman declined to comment on the information.

The New Year's lucky money activity has long been an opportunity for employees to meet face-to-face with the founder, president and CEO of Ma Dang, and other senior leaders of the group.

"I was a bit disappointed not to see Mr. Ma this year," an employee said. "Tencent can send lucky money via WeChat but that is not our tradition for a long time."

Mr. Ma has personally handed out lucky money and happy New Year to a large number of employees for nearly two decades. This tradition continues even when the electronic lucky money service was launched in 2014.

Last year, the employees followed each other to receive lucky money to fill the courtyard of Tencent, extending up to the 48th floor. They arranged in a large "fu" shape, meaning prosperity. Some even lined up for 12 hours, waiting overnight, to be the first to receive envelopes from Mr. Ma.

Tencent's latest decision comes amid the Wuhan pneumonia virus that has spread to 20 other cities in China, killing 6 people. Yesterday, mainland officials confirmed 291 cases of the strange virus infection, including 270 in Hubei province, the source of the disease. Pandemic pneumonia has also spread to Hong Kong, Taiwan and other countries such as Thailand, Japan and South Korea.

Meanwhile, tens of millions of Chinese are flocking to their hometowns to celebrate Tet during the "world's largest annual migration".

"I think it is right to cancel the red envelopes because gathering people can put employees at risk of being infected with a virus," a Tencent employee said. "Safety is the most important at this time."