The "Chief Executive's Award for Exemplary Performance" is a special honor newly established by this government to recognise meritorious and exemplary teams or individuals on a regular basis, with a view to encouraging civil servants to constantly strive for excellence, and to allow the public to gain a clearer understanding of the government's work and the excellent aspects of the civil service team.

After careful consideration by the selection committee and the Chief Executive, the inaugural "Chief Executive's Award for Exemplary Performance" was awarded to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) search and rescue team that went to the earthquake-stricken areas in Turkey to assist in search and rescue operations.

The 59-strong search and rescue team, led by Deputy Chief Fire Officer of the Fire Services Department (FSD) Mr Yiu Men-yeung, comprises 49 members of the FSD's Urban Search and Rescue Team, which includes firemen, ambulancemen and fire services workshops personnel, as well as officers from the Security Bureau, the Immigration Department and the Department of Health. The team members, faced with danger, were accompanied by two search and rescue dogs and about eight tons of rescue equipment. They ventured into the disaster-stricken area, risking their lives to carry out rescue missions, and successfully rescued four survivors.