The 2022 Honours List and Justices of the Peace (JPs) appointments are published in the Government Gazette on Wednesday (July 27). There are 890 awardees, which is the highest number ever.

The award recipients have made significant contributions to Hong Kong in different areas, benefiting various sectors including public and community service, education, medical and public health, finance, scientific research, arts and culture, sports, environmental protection, professional services, etc.

Chief Executive Lee Ka-chiu are among seven Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM), the city's highest honor, awardees for their contributions to serving Hong Kong over the years.

According to the Gazette, Lee is awarded GBM in recognition of his dedicated and distinguished public service to the government and the Hong Kong community over the past 44 years. With his ability and experience in public administration, he assisted the then Chief Executive in rising to the challenges and played an instrumental role in coordination in policy formulation and implementation, making significant contributions to Hong Kong.

Other GBM awardees are lawmaker Tommy Cheung Yu-yan; Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal Justice Roberto Alexandre Vieira Ribeiro; senior counsel Andrew Liao Cheung-sing; Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council Wilfred Wong Ying-wai; Hong Kong Trade Development Council chairman Peter Lam Kin-ngok; and Chinese and Hong Kong entrepreneur Ng Leung-ho.

There are 25 persons to be awarded Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS), 28 with the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS), and 46 to get the Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS).

Over 30 awardees are from the sports sector. Hong Kong's top fencer Edgar Cheung Ka-long, the first male athlete in Hong Kong to win an Olympics gold medal, is awarded SBS in recognition of his outstanding achievements in various international fencing events since 2012.

Olympic double silver medal-winner Siobhan Haughey; bronze medalist in the Women’s Sprint event (Track Cycling) at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Game Sarah Lee Wai-sze; and the head coach of the Hong Kong cycling team Shen Jin-kang are awarded SBS.

Boccia player Leung Yuk-wing; head coach of the Hong Kong fencing team Zheng Kang-zhao; and Michael Scott Tanner who served the Hong Kong, China Rowing Association for over 40 years are awarded BBS for their significant contributions to the city.

Karate star Grace Lau Mo-sheung; table tennis players Doo Hoi-kem, Minnie Soo Wai Yam and Lee Ho-ching are awarded Medal of Honour.

A government spokesman pointed out that this year's total number of recipients is the highest since the establishment of the HKSAR, with about 70 percent (607 persons) being awarded the Chief Executive's Commendation for Community Service or the Chief Executive's Commendation for Government/Public Service. Among them, 493 persons are members of the community and public servants who have made significant contributions to the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

The presentation ceremony for the awards will be held later this year. The exact timing and arrangements will take into account the social distancing measures then in force.

For JPs appointments, amongst all the 50 JPs appointed by former Chief Executive Carrie Lam, 38 were appointed as non-official JPs and 12 were appointed as official JPs.