Australian becomes first foreigner honoured by Hong Kong government for act outside the city, as pan-democrats are snubbed for fourth year running
- Constable who saved Hongkonger from swollen river in 2016 gets bravery medal, as do firefighters who saved hikers in Fei Ngo Shan
- Justice Robert Tang among four awarded Grand Bauhinia Medal
Being awarded a bravery medal in Hong Kong was not only “a great honour” but “surreal” for Zachary Rolfe, an Australian police officer who is the first foreign national commended by the Hong Kong government for heroic acts outside the city.
Rolfe, who saved a Hong Kong woman from drowning in Australia, was one of 282 people named on the government’s official honours list this year. He was presented with his medal by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor at Government House on Saturday.
The constable was commended for saving the Hongkonger, who went missing in December 2016 after the vehicle she was riding in was swept away as it tried to cross a flooded road, 30km from Alice Springs, a town in the Northern Territories.
Without any communication equipment and operating alone, Rolfe, searched the highly dangerous and turbulent floodwaters for the woman, and finally found her seven kilometres away downstream.
He carried her around his neck, and successfully swam across the floodwaters to reach safety.
“It’s a great honour, definitely unexpected,” Rolfe said on Saturday, with his medal freshly pinned on his navy suit. “I was doing my job, but definitely feel honoured to be here today, [it’s] so surreal.”