The existing Hong Kong honours system was created after the transfer of government of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China as a special administrative region in 1997. Before that, Hong Kong was a British dependent territory and followed the British honours system.
The Hong Kong SAR government releases an annual Honours List, which is published in the Government Gazette on Establishment Day (1 July).
Types of awards
General Awards
The Grand Bauhinia Medal
The Grand Bauhinia Medal, the highest award under the HKSAR honours and awards system, is to recognise the selected person's lifelong and highly significant contribution to the well-being of Hong Kong. The awardee is entitled to the postnominal letters GBM and the style The Honourable. (Bauhinia, Bauhinia blakeana, is the floral emblem of Hong Kong.)
The Bauhinia Star
The Bauhinia Star has three classes: Gold, Silver and Bronze.
The Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS) is awarded to eminent persons who have given very distinguished services to the community or who have rendered public or voluntary services of a very high degree of merit.
The Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) is awarded to persons who have taken a leading part in public affairs and/or voluntary work over a long period of time.
The Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) is awarded to persons who have given outstanding service over a long period of time, but in a more limited field or way than that required for the Silver Bauhinia Star.
The Medal of Honour
The Medal of Honour (MH) is the basic award under the honours system and is awarded in recognition of community service in a district or in a particular field over a long period of time. It is also awarded to non-directorate civil servants who have served with distinction.
Gallantry Awards
The Medal for Bravery
The Medal for Bravery is awarded for display of bravery in an incident. It too has three classes, Gold, Silver and Bronze.
The Medal for Bravery (Gold) is awarded for acts of gallantry of the greatest possible heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger.
The Medal for Bravery (Silver) is awarded for gallantry of an extremely high order.
The Medal for Bravery (Bronze) is awarded for exemplary acts of gallantry of a lesser standard.
Disciplined Services and ICAC Awards
The Disciplined Services and ICAC Awards are awarded to officers of the six major disciplined formations as well as the Independent Commission Against Corruption. The disciplined formations are the Hong Kong Police, Hong Kong Fire Services, Hong Kong Immigration Service, Hong Kong Customs and Excise, Hong Kong Correctional Services, and the Government Flying Service. These awards replace the colonial awards issued before July 1997 that had profile of the reigning monarch and different ribbons. There are three types of awards:
Distinguished Service Medals
Hong Kong Police Medal for Distinguished Service (PDSM) Hong Kong Fire Services Medal for Distinguished Service (FSDSM) Hong Kong Immigration Service Medal for Distinguished Service (IDSM) Hong Kong Customs and Excise Medal for Distinguished Service (CDSM) Hong Kong Correctional Services Medal for Distinguished Service (CSDSM) Government Flying Service Medal for Distinguished Service (GDSM) Hong Kong ICAC Medal for Distinguished Service (IDS)
Meritorious Service Medals
Hong Kong Police Medal for Meritorious Service (PMSM) Hong Kong Fire Services Medal for Meritorious Service (FSMSM) Hong Kong Immigration Service Medal for Meritorious Service (IMSM) Hong Kong Customs and Excise Medal for Meritorious Service (CMSM) Hong Kong Correctional Services Medal for Meritorious Service (CSMSM) Government Flying Service Medal for Meritorious Service (GMSM) Hong Kong ICAC Medal for Meritorious Service (IMS)