MUMBAI: The Hong Kong government has decided to bestow the Silver Bauhinia Star, a top official honour to veteran director John Woo in recognition of his contributions to Hong Kong and Chinese cinema. The award is named after the semiautonomous territory‘s official flower.

Woo made his name in Hong Kong with his action thrillers before moving to Hollywood, where his credits include Face/Off, Hard Target, Broken Arrow, Mission: Impossible II among others. In 2008, he returned to directing Chinese films with the two-part historical epic Red Cliff and Red Cliff II.

The annual honours were announced by Hong Kong to mark the 13th anniversary of the former British colony‘s return to Chinese rule.

Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, Hard Boiled, and The Killer. He also created the comic series Seven Brothers published by Virgin Comics.