New honours and awards system for disciplined services

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A new system of honours and awards has been approved by the Chief Executive to give recognition to meritorious and long service rendered by officers of the disciplined services, Principal Assistant Secretary for Security, Mr Philip Chan, said today (Wednesday).

"We fully recognise that honours and awards are conducive to the maintenance of morale of the disciplined services," he said.

The new system comprises three categories, namely:-

(a) Distinguished Service Medal

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The following medals are available for directorate officers in the five major disciplined services in recognition of their exceptional and meritorious service to the community:

* Hong Kong Police Medal for Distinguished Service (PDSM)

* Hong Kong Fire Services Medal for Distinguished Service (FSDSM)

* Hong Kong Immigration Service Medal for Distinguished Service (IDSM)

* Hong Kong Customs and Excise Medal for Distinguished Service(CDSM)

* Hong Kong Correctional Services Medal for Distinguished Service(CSDSM)

(b) Meritorious Service Medal

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The following medals are available for officers of all ranks of the five major disciplined services for valuable service characterised by resourcefulness and devotion to duty marked by exceptional ability, merit and exemplary conduct. Preference is given to officers who have rendered service of a high degree of merit, such as the discharge of special duties, or to officers credited with the highly meritorious performance of ordinary duties when these have entailed work of a dangerous or specially trying character:

* Hong Kong Police Medal for Meritorious Service (PMSM)

* Hong Kong Fire Services Medal for Meritorious Service(FSMSM)

* Hong Kong Immigration Service Medal for Meritorious Service(IMSM)

* Hong Kong Customs and Excise Medal for Meritorious Service (CMSM)

* Hong Kong Correctional Services Medal for Meritorious Service (CSMSM)

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Medals and clasps will be awarded to officers with exemplary character and good conduct who have completed certain years of satisfactory service.

The frequency and timing of presenting long service awards would be determined by respective head of department.

The designs of the medals have been approved by the Chief Executive. The first batch of distinguished and meritorious service awards will be announced in early July.

End/Wednesday, June 24,1998

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