Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal Roberto Ribeiro are among seven people awarded the top Grand Bauhinia Medal by former chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.
A record of 890 people are honored in the 2022 Honours List, which honored people from different walks of life who have made significant contributions to Hong Kong in different areas.
The other five people honored with the top Grand Bauhinia Medal are executive and legislative councilor Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, Chairman of the University of Science and Technology Council Andrew Liao, Chairman of the Arts Development Council and the Film Development Council Wilfred Wong, businessman and chairman of the Trade Development Council Peter Lam, and local Fujianese community leader Ng Leung-ho.
Lee is praised for his dedicated and distinguished service to the government and Hong Kong community over the past 44 years, particularly his contributions as security minister and chief secretary, according to a government press release issued on Wednesday.
"(Lee) assisted the then chief executive in rising to the challenges and played an instrumental role in co-ordination in policy formulation and implementation, making significant contributions to Hong Kong," the release reads.
Twenty-five people were given the Gold Bauhinia Star, including former and current senior government officials, lawmakers, and veteran actress Liza Wang Ming-chun.
Twenty-eight people, including a number of medal-winning local athletes at the Tokyo Olympics, made the Silver Bauhinia Star list. They include swimmer Siobhan Haughey, fencer Cheung Edgar Ka-long and cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze who won medals in the Tokyo Olympics last year.
The total number of award recipients this year is the highest since the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 1997, with 493 people being honored for their significant contributions in fighting COVID-19.
An awards presentation ceremony will be held later this year.
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