Derek Cheung Yu-keung doesn't have a high profile - most of the people he serves are dead - but after 16 years of quiet toil his efforts have been recognised by the British government.
Cheung, manager of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and responsible for keeping 1,581 graves in good order, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire. 'I am very happy to receive the honour; this job gives me satisfaction and recognition. I shall try my very best to continue with my service,' he said.
Cheung, 61, who tends the graves at the Sai Wan War Cemetery, is one of 1,300 people working for the commission worldwide and the only one to receive such an award this year.
Most of the graves are of soldiers who died in the two world wars.
'They were buried here regardless of their title or race and there were also a lot of nameless soldiers,' Cheung said.
Philip Noakes, the commission's outer area director, who nominated Cheung, said he had done a great job.