Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa yesterday survived an embarrassing challenge by lawmakers investigating whether he bypassed procedures to honour a left-wing leader of the 1967 riots.
The motion to invoke Legco's power to open confidential files relating to the award was rejected by a vote of 18-34.
Mr Tung sparked outcry in July when he announced that unionist Yeung Kwong, 75, who led the riots, would be given the Grand Bauhinia Award, the SAR's highest honour. Officials refused to say if Mr Tung made the nomination himself but confirmed there were cases where he had made his own choice in addition to those by a screening committee.
Emily Lau Wai-hing of The Frontier said people were outraged to learn that the riot leader had been honoured.
'Thirty-four years ago he led the strike outside Government House. Thirty-four years later he was honoured inside it.'
She said it was important to find out if Mr Tung had adhered to established procedures.
Democrat Andrew Cheng Kar-foo said: 'This is the SAR honour system, not the Chief Executive's own honour system.
