Rafael Hui Si-yan, who steps down as chief secretary today, is to be given Hong Kong's top honour, the Grand Bauhinia Medal.
He is among three former ministers in Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's cabinet in the honours list to be officially announced today. The others are Patrick Ho Chi-ping and Sarah Liao Sau-tung, who will both receive the Gold Bauhinia Star.
Mr Hui has been praised for making a significant contribution to Hong Kong's development and helping steer the government through many and varied challenges. He also is said to have ensured co-ordination in the formulation of policies and their implementation.
Mr Hui is one of four recipients of the top award. The others are Legislative Council president Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, Executive Councillor David Li Kwok-po and property tycoon Lee Shau-kee.
Two newcomers to Mr Tsang's cabinet, Matthew Cheung Kin-chung and Chan Ka-keung, who take up the post as Secretary for Labour and Welfare and Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, are to be awarded Gold and Silver Bauhinia Stars.
Four Democratic Party members are being honoured - the largest number from the party since the handover. They are the party's two vice-chairmen - Sin Chung-kai and Tik Chi-yuen - and Kam Nai-wai and Ching Cheung-ying.
Giving awards to Democratic Party members was seen as a government move to improve relations with the party, said Mr Tik.