7.1 Conferral of honorific titles during the colonial period

Before 1997, the governor of Hong Kong recommended candidates to be awarded honours twice a year. Conferred in the name of the Queen, these honours provided a mechanism by which members of the Chinese elite could be co-opted into the ruling establishment of the Hong Kong government.

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire includes honours in two divisions - civil and military - and medals are presented to all holders, some of whom can style themselves "Sir" or "Dame".

The medals come in different sizes depending on the class and are worn in different styles. For example, the famous Hong Kong merchant Sir Robert Ho-tung, who was made a Knoght Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE), was able to wear his medal around the neck on a long ribbon.

An Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) would wear his or her medal, an example of which is displayed here, on the left side of the chest.

The Order of the British Empire includes five classes of honours. They are :

Knight Grand Cross (GBE) or Dame Grand Cross (GBE)

Knight Commander (KBE) or Dame Commander (DBE)

Commander (CBE)

Officer (OBE)

Member (MBE)

Credit : History Museum of HK.