Macau’s 2018 honours list released by the government yesterday includes a local business and community leader from Fujian, the bishop of the local Roman-Catholic diocese, the city’s best-selling Chinese-language daily and a former consul-general from Portugal in Macau.
Businessman Chan Meng Kam, a former lawmaker and current Executive Council member, was awarded this year’s highest honour, the Golden Lotus decoration, Macau’s second-highest decoration. Macau’s top honour, the Grand Lotus decoration, was not awarded this year.
Chan is widely seen as the de facto leader of Macau’s Fujianese community, which accounts for about one-fifth of the population. Chan chairs the private City University of Macau (CityU).
Chan Meng Kam speaks to reporters in September last year outside Hotel Royal Dragon in Zape on the sidelines of its opening ceremony in his capacity as chairman of the hotel. Photo: Debby Seng
