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Hong Kong’s first chief executive Tung Chee-hwa among 36 Chinese national award winners
- President Xi Jinping recognises citizens for their outstanding contribution to nation’s development
- Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Cuban leader Raul Castro among six foreign recipients of Friendship Medals
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Mandy Zuoin Shanghai
Former Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa was among 42 Chinese and foreign citizens to be presented with honorary medals by President Xi Jinping on Sunday for their contribution to the development and growth of the People’s Republic of China.
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It was the first time the honorary awards were presented, and Tung – the first person from Hong Kong to receive one – was recognised for his outstanding contribution to “one country, two systems”.
The presentations were made at a grand ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing as part of celebrations for the nation’s 70th anniversary, which falls on Tuesday.
Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and China’s nuclear submarine pioneer Huang Xuhua were also among those who were recognised for their roles in driving growth and improving China’s ties with other countries.
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Xi praised the medal recipients for their “selfless dedication to hard work”, and acknowledged the Chinese recipients for their “decades of service in fields the country needs most”.
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