MACAO - China's Macao Special Administrative Region on Saturday conferred the Decoration of Honor, Grand Lotus, its highest honor, on former SAR Chief Executive Chui Sai On and renowned Chinese respiratory-disease expert Zhong Nanshan.

The SAR government announced Decorations, Medals and Certificates of Merit awarded for 2020, which were given to individuals and organizations in recognition of their achievements, outstanding contributions to the SAR and distinguished services.

Zhong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, is a leading expert in China's respiratory disease research who proposed epidemic prevention and control measures that saved numerous lives and made great contributions to fighting both SARS and COVID-19.