Macau’s 2018 honours list released by the government yesterday includes a local business and community leader from Fujian, the bishop of the local Roman-Catholic diocese, the city’s best-selling Chinese-language daily and a former consul-general from Portugal in Macau.
Businessman Chan Meng Kam, a former lawmaker and current Executive Council member, was awarded this year’s highest honour, the Golden Lotus decoration, Macau’s second-highest decoration. Macau’s top honour, the Grand Lotus decoration, was not awarded this year.
Chan is widely seen as the de facto leader of Macau’s Fujianese community, which accounts for about one-fifth of the population. Chan chairs the private City University of Macau (CityU).
Four residents were awarded the Silver Lotus decoration – businessmen Fong Chi Keong and Ho Hao Tong, trade unionist Kwan Tsui Hang and wushu practitioner Huang Junhua.
The 2018 honours list comprises 46 people and entities. Apart from the five decorations, 41 medals and certificates of merit were awarded.
The recipients include Sai Nam Restaurant, Kapok Cantonese Restaurant, Santa Madalena School, Macao Daily News, Roman-Catholic Macau Diocese Bishop Stephen Lee Bun Sang, the Civil Protection Operations Centre, the Emergency Department of the Conde de S. Januario Hospital Centre, the Richmond Fellowship of Macau Association, and Portugal’s former consul-general in Macau, Vitor Sereno.
The decorations, medals and certificates – granted by the government upon the suggestion of an honours commission – will be awarded during a solemn ceremony early next month.
