This Aug 8, 2017 photo shows the Central Government Offices in Tamar, Hong Kong. (PHOTO / GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, HKSAR)

HONG KONG – Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has awarded 403 people in this year’s Honours List in recognition of their significant contributions to Hong Kong.

The 2023 Honours List and Justices of the Peace appointments were published in the Government Gazette on Saturday.

Five people – Executive Council Non-official Member and lawmaker Jeffrey Lam, Polytechnic University former President Prof Poon Chung-kwong, Timothy Fok, Lam Shuk-yee and Sze Chi-ching – received the Grand Bauhinia Medal.

The award recipients have made significant contributions to the city in different areas, benefitting various domains and sectors of the community, said the government

Ten people received the Gold Bauhinia Star, 28 the Silver Bauhinia Star and 41 the Bronze Bauhinia Star.

Meanwhile, Ho Siu-fai, who tried to stop the suspect behind a brutal knife attack at Plaza Hollywood shopping mall in Diamond Hill, was awarded the Medal for Bravery (Bronze) for courageously confronting the suspect.

The June 2 attack by the man, who reportedly has a history of mental illness, left two women – aged 22 and 26 years – dead.

The CE also wished to thank four citizens for their unreserved assistance in rescuing the victims immediately at the scene by awarding them the Chief Executive's Commendation for Community Service.

"He (CE) also takes this opportunity to express his thanks again to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region search and rescue team deployed to carry out search and rescue operations in the quake-stricken areas in Türkiye in February this year. They have been awarded the Chief Executive's Commendation for Government/Public Service in recognition of their contributions to the operations.

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The Hong Kong search and rescue team was earlier awarded the inaugural Chief Executive's Award for Exemplary Performance.

The awards presentation ceremony will be held later this year. 

Additionally, the Chief Executive has appointed a total of 65 people as Justices of the Peace.