Brave citizen joins prominent figures on honours list
A man who tried to stop the suspect behind a brutal knife attack at a Diamond Hill shopping mall, along with members of the government rescue team sent to Turkey after a devastating earthquake, are among more than 400 people awarded with honours by Chief Executive John Lee, which also include senior officials, business leaders, educators and veteran journalists. The five recipients of the top Grand Bauhinia Medal this year are Executive and Legislative Council member Jeffrey Lam; President Emeritus of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Poon Chung-kwong; Timothy Fok, president of the local Sports Federation & Olympic Committee; Lam Shuk-yee, an honorary president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions; and businessman and calligrapher Sze Chi-ching, a former member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Newly-named deputy director of the Basic Law Committee Wong Yuk-shan; Nicholas Addison Phillips, a non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal; and May Chan, a consultant at Commercial Radio and a former chairwoman of the News Executives' Association, are among 10 people receiving the Gold Bauhinia Star. Twenty-eight people are recipients of the Silver Bauhinia Star. These include current and retired government officials; president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong Allen Shi; and the head of news at TVB, Yuen Chi-wai. Forty-one people made the Bronze Bauhinia Star list.  Ho Siu-fai, a chef who tried to stop the murder suspect in the attack at Plaza Hollywood that killed two women on June 2, is to receive the Medal for Bravery (Bronze). "[T]he chief executive would like to thank a citizen who bravely confronted the suspect with a view to stopping the latter from continuing his assault on others," said a government spokesman.  Four others who provided first aid to the victims at the scene are awarded the Chief Executive's Commendation of Community Service.  The 59-strong rescue and search team sent to Turkey after February's deadly earthquake have been awarded the Chief Executive's Commendation for Government/Public Service.  Earlier, they were named the first-ever recipients of the Chief Executive's Award for Exemplary Performance.  In all, 403 awards are handed out this year, less than half the number in 2022. An awards presentation ceremony will be held later this year.