Pansy Ho, co-chairperson and executive director of MGM China Holdings Ltd., has been awarded the Chevalier de L’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur, France’s highest honor.
The Phuket News reported that Ho received the order of merit from Eric Berti, French consul general for Hong Kong and Macau.
Accepting the honor, Ho said, “To me, the significance of this award is much more than to honor a particular individual, but to salute the concept of service for common benefit. This is a decoration the French president grants to me for acknowledging the humble role I play in my lifelong advocacy of French art and culture, and promotion of cultural exchange and economic development between France and China, Hong Kong and Macau.”
The daughter of gaming legend Stanley Ho said she has long been influenced by French art and culture. “Little did I know that my childhood visits would evolve into a lifelong journey of promoting French art and culture, spanning my career path, different businesses and industry sectors, different regions, and for a multitude of good reasons.
“Connecting people and nations and promoting common development and peace are enormous tasks that require individual and collaborative efforts,” she added.
Ho helped to organize Le French May art festival and also brought major French art exhibits to Hong Kong and Macau, including “Biennial of the Lions, Edgar Degas: Figures in Motion” and “A Golden Way of Life— Très’Ors to Macau,” reported the Macau Daily Times. Ho received the Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite in 2009 and was appointed as Ambassador of the Louvre in China in 2012.
The Order of the Légion d’Honneur was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. It is the highest civilian award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France.
