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

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.