Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung and Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah are among seven people to be awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal this year.
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A record-high 746 awardees - the highest since 1997 - across 11 categories will be honored on the 24th handover anniversary today, which is also one day after the first anniversary of the national security law's implementation.
Last year's honor list had 687 awardees, which was also much more than the usual 200 to 400 awardees.
The Gold Medal for Bravery is not given out this year.
Chief Justice Cheung, who in January succeeded Geoffrey Ma Tao-li as the head of the judiciary and the Court of Final Appeal, is given the highest honor for his service to the judiciary and the Hong Kong community, as well as his "tremendous contribution" to upholding the rule of law.
"He has made exemplary efforts in commanding public confidence in the judicial system of Hong Kong," the government said.
Cheng is commended for making "significant contributions" to upholding the rule of law, ensuring a fair and effective administration of justice and protecting public interest.
Also receiving the top honor are two Executive Council members - Urban Renewal Authority chairman Chow Chung-kong and lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee - and businessmen Bunny Chan Chung-bun, Jonathan Choi Koon-shum and Lo Man-tuen.
There are 18 Gold Bauhinia Star recipients, including two lawmakers, two judges from the Court of Appeal and six permanent secretaries.
One of the permanent secretaries is Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's former subordinate Betty Fung Ching Suk-yee.
Six Gold Bauhinia Star awardees were promoted from their Silver Bauhinia Star titles, including outspoken former director of public prosecutions and senior counsel Grenville Cross, who had repeatedly defended the police force and the national security law.
Other Gold Bauhinia Star awardees include property tycoon and Henderson Land Development co-chairman Martin Lee Ka-shing and veteran leader of overseas Chinese Associations, Singaporean-Chinese Yiu Chi-shing.
The Silver Bauhinia Star will be awarded to 22 people, including customs commissioner Tang Yi-hoi and lawmakers Chan Hak-kan and Yiu Si-wing.
Among the 41 Bronze Bauhinia Star recipients are Chris Ip Ngo-tung, the former Yau Tsim Mong district council chairman and a nephew of pro-establishment heavyweight Ip Kwok-him, and Daisy Ho Chiu-fung, daughter of late "casino king" Stanley Ho Hung-sun.
Four silver and four bronze medals will be handed out for bravery to police officers who took part in operations during the social unrest.
Two officers will be given silver medals for defusing explosives, while others "showed courage and selflessness despite being attacked by rioters." Anthony Chau Ting-hang, deputy principal government counsel best known for his prosecution of media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying under the national security law, will be awarded the Chief Executive's Commendation for Public Service.
