The annual honours and awards selection and appointment of Justices of the Peace (JPs) exercise this year will be postponed, and so will the announcement of the list of honours and awards as well as the JP appointments.
Announcing this today (May 5), a Government spokesman said, "To accord top priority to the on-going anti-epidemic work and implementation of the host of relief measures aimed at retaining employment, supporting businesses and easing people's livelihood in face of the challenges arising from the COVID-19 epidemic, the Government has decided to defer the 2020 honours and awards selection and appointment of JPs exercise. Instead of July 1 as in previous years, the Honours list and appointments of JPs will be announced on October 1."
Honours and awards are awarded to individuals in recognition of their significant contribution to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or their dedicated public and community service. JPs are appointed under the Justices of the Peace Ordinance (Cap. 510) with the main function of visiting custodial institutions or detention centres. The annual Honours List and the list of new JP appointments are normally published in the Government Gazette on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (July 1).
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