For connoisseurs of irony, the Sunday Morning Post of October 14 was a classic. Page 3 had a story headlined 'It's official: SAR joins anti-terror campaign'. Meanwhile, on the front page was a photo of Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa presenting the SAR's highest honour to a man associated with the only terrorist campaign in Hong Kong's history.
As well as being an incredible insult to the police force, the award to Yeung Kwong, a leader of the 1967 riots in which dozens of people died, brings the whole SAR honours system into ignominy. If honours confer prestige on the recipients, the reverse is also true. When an order or decoration is awarded only to those universally acknowledged to be of the highest merit, then that award will truly be seen as an honour.
If, on the other hand, there is a perception that awards go to unworthy recipients, either on the basis of 'Buggins' turn' or, even worse, in return for political favours, then the medal itself is cheapened.
How much esteem should be given to the Grand Bauhinia Medal, I wonder, when an unrepentant Maoist like Mr Yeung is considered to be an appropriate recipient?
C. G. BILHAM
Hong Kong Island
