Government Honours Loyalty

Lee given the highest award, the Grand Bauhinia Medal

The Hong Kong government has released its 2022 Hong Kong Honours List, and former chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor made sure she recognised those who stuck by her through thick and thin.

Most notable?

The Grand Bauhinia Medal is awarded to seven people, including current leader John Lee Ka-chiu. Even though he and Lam blundered in proposing the extradition bill in 2019 that led to massive street protests and stepping up violent police action against the protesters.

Chan bungled Covid response but still awarded

Instead he is recognised for his "dedicated and distinguished public service to the Government and the Hong Kong community over the past 44 years, particularly his sterling contributions during his tenure as the Secretary for Security and the Chief Secretary for Administration," the citation reads. 

"With his strong commitment to Hong Kong and outstanding ability and experience in public administration, he assisted the then Chief Executive in rising to the challenges and played an instrumental role in co-ordination in policy formulation and implementation, making significant contributions to Hong Kong."

Others who were rewarded for their loyalty include: former secretary for food and health Sophia Chan Siu-chee, pro-Beijing executive councillor Ronny Tong Ka-wah, former secretary for education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung (formally he has dropped "Chris"), former secretary for transport and housing Frank Chan Fan, and ICAC head Simon Peh Yun-lu.

Dover led police response to protests in 2019

Another notable person is assistant commissioner of police Rupert Dover, who lead the operations against the protesters in 2019, and Peter Lam Kin-ngok, owner of various restaurants including three Michelin starred 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo, former chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board and now the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council.

On Twitter people were wondering how Lee will award himself his own medal...

Other notable honourees who deserve the recognition include Olympic cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze, radio DJ Reinaldo Maria Cordeiro otherwise known as Uncle Ray, Olympic swimmer Siobhan Bernadette Haughey, and fencer Cheung Ka-long.

Cheung won gold in fencing in Tokyo Olympics

While no date has been set yet on when the actual awards will be handed out, we are still wondering... will Lee just pin the medal on himself?

ICAC insists on Getting Wanted Man

Peh says ICAC is "working hard" to extradite Ted Hui

Former lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung is wanted by the ICAC, the Independent Commission Against Corruption. His alleged crime? Calling for people to cast blank votes before the 2021 Legislative Council election.

Hui is currently in exile in Australia

He had already left Hong Kong in November 2020 and eventually settled in Australia, and the government has even frozen his bank accounts as well as those of his wife and parents.

But the ICAC have named Hui a wanted man and most recently commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu reiterated the organisation was "working hard" to extradite the former pro-democratic lawmaker who is now in exile.

The snag is that Australia suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong after the implementation of the national security law in June 2020. And besides extradition usually requires dual criminality and Hui calling for blank votes on social media is not considered a crime in Australia.

Tsui was forced to resign after "partygate" scandal

So Peh is insisting in flogging a dead horse to show he means business, but in the end it's a dead end really. Why bother?

Or is he trying to demonstrate he is diligently doing his job after he attended Witman Hung Wai-man's birthday party a few months back that resulted in a spate of infections and snagged a few officials including then Home Affairs Secretary Caspar Tsui Ying-wai?

Nevertheless, with the upcoming Chief Executive election fast approaching on May 8, Peh said there was yet any signs of anyone promoting the eligible voters to cast blank ballots.

There are only 1,454 people on this election committee who have been vetted by Beijing. Surely they are not going to waste their vote when there is one candidate running?

Hung belting out a tune during his birthday party

It seems like a sure slam dunk for that person, former Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu. How many votes will he get compared to Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (777), and Leung Chung-ying (689)?