bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

Everyone on the government's honours list deserves the award, Chief Secretary  Henry Tang Ying-yen said yesterday.
Mr Tang,  one of the three Grand Bauhinia Medal recipients, was responding to criticism of government officials being given top honours.
'In the past, many serving government officials have received the medal or stars,' he said.
'We have a strict system which has proved effective, ensuring that only those who merit them receive honours.'  
Mr Tang is also the chairman of the honours committee, which nominates recipients.
A Protocol Division spokesman said the chief secretary had withdrawn from the meeting when his nomination was discussed. 
Mr Tang was speaking in Shanghai, where he attended a ceremony relating to the World Expo 2010.
'I thank the chief executive for giving me this medal and giving me the opportunity to serve citizens,' he said. 'I also thank my whole team of colleagues. My work can only be successful with the support and assistance of the whole team.'
The other two Grand Bauhinia Medal recipients are Hong Kong Monetary Authority chief executive Joseph Yam Chi-kwong  and businessman Hari Naroomal Harilela.  
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung  was similarly coy after receiving a Gold Bauhinia Star.
'I have to thank my colleagues at the government and friends from various sectors for their support over the years. This is the result of their support,' he said at a handover anniversary event. 
Seven former and incumbent officials are among the 444 people on this year's honours list.
Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok  and Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong  also received Gold Bauhinia Stars.
Many on yesterday's big anti-government march showed their anger at the awarding of honours to senior officials in this year's honours list.
'The voices of the people were snubbed, while [Henry] Tang Ying-yen received the Grand Bauhinia Medal,' shouted an activist on the central stage in  Victoria Park, drawing  applause. 'Even [Stephen] Lam Sui-lung, who has blocked democracy, received the Gold Bauhinia Star. What sort of government is this?'




Minister defends awarding of stars, medals to officials