But whistle-blower who questioned handling of outbreak is not on the list
Forty-one Sars heroes have been given government awards in the biggest-ever honours list awarded by Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa on the July 1 anniversary.
But Sydney Chung Sheung-chee, who was Chinese University's dean of faculty of medicine when he disputed claims by health chief Yeoh Eng-kiong that the disease had not spread to the community in the early weeks of the outbreak last March, was not on the list.
And for the second time, no one received Hong Kong's highest award - the Grand Bauhinia medal - among the 376 business leaders, civil servants, activists for the rights of the underprivileged and pro-Tung lawmakers honoured.
Topping the list of 15 recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star award is Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, legislator and president of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong. He was honoured for his contribution in raising the status of sport in Hong Kong.
The vice-chairman of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong, Ip Kwok-him, who headed the scrutiny of the Article 23 anti-subversion legislation and lost his district council seat last year, also earned himself the Gold Bauhinia Star medal.
Other recipients include Liberal party vice-chairman Miriam Lau Kin-yee, HSBC chairman David Eldon, Lan Kwai Fong Group chairman Allan Zeman and Hopewell Holdings chairman Sir Gordon Wu Ying-sheung.