Lee one of seven awarded Grand Bauhinia Medal

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, lawmaker Tommy Cheung Yu-yan and senior council Andrew Liao Cheung-sing are among seven Grand Bauhinia Medal awardees this year - but it remains to be seen who will present the award to Lee remains as he will officiate at the ceremony later this year.

A record-high 890 recipients - the highest since 1997 - across 10 categories are on this year's list awarded by former chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor. That's 144 more than last year.

It is understood that former executive president of China Everbright Chen Shuang,who was among the Bronze Bauhinia Star recipients, will be removed from the list as he has been arrested in the mainland following an investigation by China's anti-corruption watchdog.

That would make him the first to be delisted before the list is gazatted.

Lee is being bestowed the city's highest honor because of his "dedicated and distinguished public service" to the government and the society for the past 44 years, especially his "sterling contributions" when he was secretary for security and the chief secretary for administration.

"With his strong commitment to Hong Kong and outstanding ability and experience in public administration, he assisted the then chief executive [Lam] in rising to the challenges and played an instrumental role in coordination [of] policy formulation and implementation, making significant contributions to Hong Kong," the government said.

Cheung and Liao are awarded for their "exemplary contributions to public service."

Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal Justice Roberto Ribeiro, Hong Kong Arts and Development Council chairman Wilfred Wong Ying-wai and Hong Kong Trade Development Council chairman Peter Lam Kin-ngok are also Grand Bauhinia awardees for their contributions in their fields.

The government praised another Grand Bauhinia recipient, mainland and Hong Kong entrepreneur Ng Leung-ho for his contributions to charity as well as his efforts during the epidemic to mobilize a large number of volunteers to pack anti-epidemic materials and distribute them to the needy.

Twenty-five people are awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star, including Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-kei and Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun, as well as four incumbent ministers and eight former government officials. Other recipients include Executive Councillors Eliza Chan Ching-har, Ronny Tong Ka-wah, lawmaker Starry Lee Wai-king, MTR Corp chairman Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen and actress Elizabeth Wang Ming-chun.

Twenty-eight are named Silver Bauhinia Stars awardees, including Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan and Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen, as well as Olympians Sarah Lee Wai-sze, Siobhan Haughey and Edgar Cheung Ka-long.

Four Tokyo Olympics medalists - Grace Lau Mo-sheung, Minnie Soo Wai-yam, Doo Hoi-kem and Lee Ho-ching - are among the 46 Bronze Bauhinia Star recipients.

This year's list includes 30 awardees from the sports sector. A government spokesman said Lam was "particularly happy with the unprecedented outstanding achievements of Hong Kong's athletes and coaches in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games and other major sports events."

Three health experts who recently joined the government's Covid panel - Wallace Lau Chak-sing, Ivan Hung Fan-ngai and Lau Yu-lung - are awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star.

Thirteen people are awarded Distinguished Service Medals for the disciplined services and the ICAC, including high-ranking police officers - including David Jordan and Rupert Dover - who attracted much public attention during anti-fugitive bill protest operations in 2019.

So King-cho, a police constable who was seriously injured after being knifed by an assailant while on duty in Causeway Bay near Sogo Department Store on July 1 last year, is awarded a Silver Medal for Bravery.

The government said the presentation ceremony for the awards will be held later this year, with the date and arrangements depending on the social distancing measures at that time.

And the announcement of this year's Honours List and Justices of the Peace appointments has been postponed as the government last month said it was focusing on preparations for the 25th anniversary handover celebrations.