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Fiona Sun

A bomb-disposal team and a unit behind Hong Kong’s light public housing scheme have won this year’s chief executive’s award, praised for embodying civil servants’ professional spirit in “rising to challenges and pursuing excellence”.
City leader John Lee Ka-chiu presented the Chief Executive’s Award for Exemplary Performance to the two interdepartmental teams at a ceremony on Friday.
Lee praised them for fulfilling their duties with a steadfast sense of mission and exceptional competence, winning public trust through tangible results.
“From the professionalism and solidarity demonstrated in handling a wartime bomb to the efficiency and innovation in building light public housing, civil servants have displayed a service spirit of utmost dedication, willingness to take on challenges and readiness to shoulder responsibilities,” he said.
The award recognises meritorious and exemplary teams or individuals in the civil service.


Last September, a 1,000-pound (454kg) wartime bomb, containing 500 pounds of high explosives and having enormous destructive potential, was discovered at a construction site in Quarry Bay. About 2,900 residents from 18 buildings were evacuated. Officers successfully defused the bomb after a nine-hour operation.
The discovery of the bomb prompted the Security Bureau, police, the Fire Services Department and the Home Affairs Department to immediately activate the interdepartmental emergency mechanism.
Noel Tai Yan, assistant secretary of the emergency support unit at the bureau, noted that the operation was challenging given that the bomb was near homes.
“This operation faced dual pressure from both an approaching typhoon and a bomb threat. If we failed to resolve this crisis before the storm hit, residents might be unable to return home and the risk to our colleagues on site would increase,” she said.
Henry Lai, Eastern district officer at the Home Affairs Department, praised and thanked his colleagues for their efforts.
“The most unforgettable moment for me was that, after the bomb was successfully defused, our colleagues from the Home Affairs Department and members of the care teams didn’t slack off for a second,” he said.
“It was pouring rain at the time. We arranged tour buses, and our department staff and care team members stood in the rain holding umbrellas to shield residents from the wind and rain, accompanying them to return home, while they didn’t mind getting soaked at all.”
Lee announced the light public housing initiative in the 2022 policy address, with the target of building about 30,000 homes in five years to improve the living conditions of those in inadequate housing and fill the short-term gap in public housing supply.
Under the initiative, the Housing Bureau takes the lead in policy formulation and overall implementation, while the Architectural Services Department oversees the project design and construction.
Lee said on Friday that the initiative was estimated to yield total rental savings of more than HK$7.5 billion for 30,000 households over five years.
Winnie Wong Ming-wai, the then deputy secretary for housing, acknowledged the challenges faced by the staff but said the efforts had paid off.
“We have seen families move from a subdivided flat of 50 to 60 sq ft to a reasonable living environment where children have their own study desks and space to play, and elderly residents have great social worker support to care for them,” she said.
“Our hearts are filled with emotion every time we hand over the keys during their move-in.”


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Hong Kong society

Bomb-disposal team, light public housing unit win chief executive’s award

Chief Executive John Lee presents an award to Raymond Suryanto Chin-chiu, a senior bomb disposal officer. Photo: Sun Yeung

Winnie Wong and Edward Wong On-wa, deputy director of architectural services, with their awards. Photo: Sun Yeung

Raymond Suryanto poses with the empty shell casing of the Quarry Bay bomb. Photo: May Tse

WWII bomb in Hong Kong’s Quarry Bay linked to US military air strike: experts

A bomb was discovered at a construction site on Pan Hoi Street in Quarry Bay. Photo: Karma Lo

The remains of the bomb at the Pan Hoi Street construction site in Quarry Bay after the disposal operation. Photo: Karma Lo

Mass evacuation after 1,000lb WWII bomb found in Hong Kong’s Quarry Bay

Officers from the bomb disposal team get their gear ready on Pan Hoi Street. Photo: Robert Ng

The area had to be evacuated due to fears that the explosive material may be unstable. Photo: Robert Ng

The bomb was found at a construction site in Quarry Bay. Photo: Karma Lo

Quarry Bay residents arrive at a community centre on Friday night. Photo: Handout

The construction site is a residential project jointly developed by Henderson Land and Swire Properties. Photo: Karma Lo

Police and firefighters remain on standby outside the construction site earlier on Friday. Photo: Karma Lo

10,000 Hongkongers in subdivided homes apply for 4,400 ‘light public housing’ flats

A light public housing construction site in Ngau Tau Kok. Photo: Sun Yeung

Inside a show flat. The temporary homes are for residents who have been on the waiting list for conventional public housing for at least three years. Photo: Sun Yeung

Contractors’ botches lead to bans on bidding for Hong Kong public projects

Screws cut short were found at a light public housing site in Siu Lam. Photo: Karma Lo

Issues were uncovered at three light housing sites, including one in Chai Wan. Photo:  Jelly Tse

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Hong Kong leader John Lee praises teams for embodying professional spirit of civil servants in ‘rising to challenges and pursuing excellence’


Hong Kong leader John Lee praises teams for embodying professional spirit of civil servants in ‘rising to challenges and pursuing excellence’.


Bomb-disposal team, light public housing unit win chief executive’s award

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Hong Kong leader John Lee praises teams for embodying professional spirit of civil servants in ‘rising to challenges and pursuing excellence’

Hong Kong leader John Lee praises teams for embodying professional spirit of civil servants in ‘rising to challenges and pursuing excellence’