Film star Chow Yun-fat was Tuesday awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong government on the sixth anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China.

Chow, leading actor in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, is the only Silver Bauhinia Star winner after Jackie Chan in the entertainment field.

Leon Lai, another film star and ambassador for Hong Kong's public welfare fund, won the Medal of Honor. Lai is said to be the youngest winner of the Medal of Honor.

Fang Yanfen, Guangdong opera artist and Nishizaki Takako, musician, won the Bronze Bauhinia Star.

Chow, who is on vacation, was not available for comment, but his sister said Chow had brought honor to the family. She attributed Chow's success to his hard work and modesty. Chow treated every fan like family, she said. "Fans will tell our mother the good news as soon as possible," the smiling sister said.

Born in 1955, Chow had worked in the entertainment field for nearly 30 years and acted in more than 100 TV series and films and won many awards.

Moreover, he worked as ambassador for Hong Kong to promote the city's commerce and tourism. Chicago in the United States has set Jan. 12, 1998 as Chow Yun-fat's Day.

When asked about his feeling toward winning the honor, Lai said he was very happy that his charity work was acknowledged. Lai had done a lot of charity work such as visiting victims of Xinjiang earthquakes and children in remote western China.

A total of 315 persons were on the 2003 annual honors list of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. The list is the sixth full honors list since Hong Kong's return to the motherland July 1, 1997.

Editor: Wings