Orders, decorations, and medals of Hong Kong

The existing Hong Kong honours system was created after transfer of government of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China as a special administrative region in 1997. Before that, Hong Kong was a British dependent territory and followed the British honours system with the Order of the British Empire.

Types of awards

General Awards

The Order of the Grand Bauhinia

The Grand Bauhinia Medal the highest award under the HKSAR honours and awards system, is to recognise the selected person's life-long and highly significant contribution to the well-being of Hong Kong. The awardee is entitled to the postnominal letters GBM and the style The Honourable. (Bauhinia, Bauhinia blakeana, is the floral emblem of Hong Kong.)

The Order of the Bauhinia Star

The Order of the Bauhinia Star has three classes (postnominal in parenthesis): the Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS), the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS), and the Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS).

The Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS) is awarded to eminent persons who have given very distinguished services to the community or who have rendered public or voluntary services of a very high degree of merit.

The Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) is awarded to persons who have taken a leading part in public affairs and/or voluntary work over a long period of time.

The Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) is awarded to persons who have given outstanding service over a long period of time, but in a more limited field or way than that required for the Silver Bauhinia Star.

The Order of the Medal of Honour

The Medal of Honour (MH) is the basic award under the honours system and is awarded in recognition of community service in a district or in a particular field over a long period of time. It is also awarded to non-directorate civil servants who have served with distinction.

Gallantry Awards

The Order of the Medal for Bravery

The Order of the Medal for Bravery is awarded for display of bravery in an incident. The Medal for Bravery (Gold) (postnominal MBG) is the highest in this order. There is also Medal for Bravery (Silver) (MBS) and Medal for Bravery (Bronze) (MBB).

The Medal for Bravery (Gold) (MBG) is awarded for acts of gallantry of the greatest possible heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger.

The Medal for Bravery (Silver) (MBS) is awarded for gallantry of an extremely high order.

The Medal for Bravery (Bronze) (MBB) is awarded for exemplary acts of gallantry of a lesser standard.

Disciplined Services and ICAC Awards

The Disciplined Services and ICAC Awards are awarded to officers of the 'disciplined formations' (similar to uniformed services elsewhere) and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). These awards replace the colonial awards issued before July 1997 that had profile of the reigning monarch and different ribbons.

There are three types of awards [1]:

Distinguished Service Medals

• Hong Kong Police Medal for Distinguished Service (PDSM)
• Hong Kong Fire Services Medal for Distinguished Service (FSDSM)
• Hong Kong Immigration Service Medal for Distinguished Service (IDSM)
• Hong Kong Customs and Excise Medal for Distinguished Service (CDSM)
• Hong Kong Correctional Services Medal for Distinguished Service (CSDSM)
• Government Flying Service Medal for Distinguished Service (GDSM)
• Hong Kong ICAC Medal for Distinguished Service (IDS)

Meritorious Service Medals

• Hong Kong Police Medal for Meritorious Service (PMSM)
• Hong Kong Fire Services Medal for Meritorious Service (FSMSM)
• Hong Kong Immigration Service Medal for Meritorious Service (IMSM)
• Hong Kong Customs and Excise Medal for Meritorious Service (CMSM)
• Hong Kong Correctional Services Medal for Meritorious Service (CSMSM)
• Government Flying Service Medal for Meritorious Service (GMSM)
• Hong Kong ICAC Medal for Meritorious Service (IMS)

Long Service Medals and Clasps

• Hong Kong Police Long Service Medal and Clasps
• Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Long Service Medal and Clasps
• Hong Kong Fire Services Long Service Medal and Clasps
• Hong Kong Correctional Services Long Service Medal and Clasps
• Hong Kong Immigration Service Long Service Medal and Clasps
• Hong Kong Customs and Excise Long Service Medal and Clasps
• Hong Kong Auxiliary Medical Services Long Service and Clasps
• Civil Aid Service Long Service Medals and Clasps(Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum)

Recipients of Hong Kong Gallantry Awards up to 30 June 1997

(Decorations conferred on Hong Kong Residents - 1 July 1996)

Military Cross (M.C.) E.W.M.L. Corbally, R.H.D. Scriven 1942, K.A. Munro 1944, P. Steyn 1944, R.A.S. Lane 1945, J.S. McKay 1945, G.D.M. Williams 1965

Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.) T.F. Stainton 1947

George Medal (G.M.) N.G.A. Noble, I.P. Hyde (Malaya), CHEUNG On 1947, LEUNG Yiu-tong 1953, P. Muskett 1958, CHOI Chor 1973, J.H. Bruce 1973, LEUNG Shiu-kay 1973

Military Medal (M.M.) W.G. Poy, A.A. Iles 1944, E.G. Jones 1944, BAN Tsan-chuen 1946, D.W. YEE, 1946

King’s Police Medal for Gallantry (K.P.M.) K. Anderson 1928,

Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry (C.P.M.) G. Wright-Nooth, D.Pitt 1968, E.J. Stevenson 1968, A.S. Conway 1973, L. Burton 1973, P.M. Mullens 1973, LUN Kam-yat 1973, LUK Kai-lau 1973, NG Kam-hung 1973, D.W.F. O’Brien 1973, J. Reid 1973, CHAN Kam-ming 1974, LAU Piu 1974

Queen’s Gallantry Medal (Q.G.M.) YIP Long-ping 1977, HO Hing-chuen 1979, CHAN Kwai-fai 1980, TUNG Chi-kan 1980, YEUNG Chun-hing 1980, N.A. McQueen 1981, LO Wai-sing 1982, CHEUNG Wai-leung 1984, LEUNG Siu-lin 1984, T.M. Adamson 1986, M.J. Lovatt 1986, CHIU Ka-ping 1987, LI Timshing 1989, LUI Tak-wah 1989, CHAN Chi-choi 1991, CHENG Kwok-wai 1991, N.J. Roberts 1993, TSANG Hung-lit 1993,YEUNG Kwok-wing 1993, CHAN Lun-fat 1995, YEUNG Chi-fai 1995, A.M. Steeple 1996 K.P. Chiu 1987

Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct (Q.C.B.C.) T.A. Berrecloth 1973, CHAN Shing-tak 1973, CHAN Shing-yuk 1973, CHEUNG Shu-shing 1973, T.G. Collins 1973, HUNG Sui-to 1973, KONG Kin 1973, LEUNG Shing-chau 1973, LI Chuen 1973, LIU Chiu-kwan 1973, LO Shiu-kuen 1973, J.D. Moran 1973, PUN Wai-cheung 1973, Guy Sanderson Shirra 1973, TAM Wai-hung 1973, TSUI Hin-kwing 1973, WONG Shiu-hung 1973, YIP Kai 1976, LAM Sai-kit 1977, LO Wing-tai 1977, LO Yin-hok 1977, MIU Wa-keung 1977, CHEUNG Ching 1978, LI Wai-leung 1978, NG Choi-leung 1978, CHAU Kwong-tak 1979, NG Chung-hung 1979, TANG Kwok-fung 1979, TO Kwok-chiu 1979, LEUNG Kam-chu 1980, TSUI Pui-ling 1980, CHAN Shiu-fai 1981, WONG Chun-fai 1982, CHAN Chung-hing 1983, KO Wing-wa 1983, K.W. YING 1983, CHIU Kwok-yin 1984, LI Kei-kit 1984, MA Shui-lun 1984, YAN Ping-kuen 1984, FU Siu-wing 1986, LI Hoi-chin 1986, NG Kwan-wai 1986, WONG Kwai-leung 1989, KAM Man-wei 1990, WONG Chi-hung 1990, LAM Kong 1992, TAM Ting-kai 1992, TANG Yau-keung 1992, CHAU Ka-keung 1994

Queen’s Commendation for Bravery (Q.C.B.) WUT Chi-wai 1995, CHAM Wui-wai 1996, CHAN Chi-man 1996, R.Y.T. CHANG 1996

Order of precedence

The order of precedence is listed as follows in postnominals: GBM, GBS, MBG, SBS, MBS, BBS, MBB, MH, JP.

Nomination and awarding

The nomination is usually made by SAR Government departments, and evaluated by the Honours Committee. The annual Honours List is published in the Gazette of the SAR Government on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (1 July).

Justice of the peace

Main article: Justice of the peace#Hong Kong

Justice of the Peace (太平紳士; postnominal JP) is a title of honour given by the Government to community leaders, and to certain officials while they are in their terms of offices. Official Justices of the Peace (官守太平紳士) is usually refer to those who is both a government official and a Justice of the Peace. The others may be referred as Non-Official Justice of the Peace (非官守太平紳士). For a person who is related to the New Territories, the Chief Secretary for Administration may appoint him/her as a New Territories Justice of the Peace (新界太平紳士).

Justices of the Peace have no judicial functions, and their main duties include visiting prisons,^[1] administering statutory declarations, to serve any advisory panels, and other functions that are imposed by the Chief Executive.

See also

• List of people with Hong Kong SAR honours since 1997
• Other honours systems:
  • Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom: formerly granted in Hong Kong and ceased after 1997. Honour members can continue to carry the titles, but not officially recognised in Hong Kong by the government after 1997.
  • Orders, decorations, and medals of Australia
• Hong Kong order of precedence

Footnotes

1. ^ Hong Kong Government information of Justice of the Peace

External links

• Honours and Awards -- Protocol Division of the Hong Kong SAR
• Recipients of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Honours and Awards
• order of precedence in Hong Kong