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Forty citizens were commended for their bravery in helping Police fight against crime during the Good Citizen Award Presentation Ceremony today (June 12).

The recipients comprised 35 men and five women. With their help, about 40 culprits were arrested for a variety of offences in relation to indecent assault, robbery, burglary, obtaining property by deception and theft.

Mr Lo Fung, one of the recipients, helped Police net swindlers.

In the morning of January 11 this year, an elderly woman was approached by one man and four women in Wong Tai Sin claiming that they knew a supernatural person who could cure rheumatism.

Feeling suspicious, Mr Lo, a passer-by, kept a close eye on the group. After a 30-minute observation, he believed that the party were swindlers and informed the Police. Subsequently, four suspects were arrested and charged with conspiracy to defraud. Three of them were found guilty with two sentenced to two-year-and-four-month's imprisonment and the remaining one two years and eight months.

Miss Yiu Sau-fong, another recipient, assisted Police in foiling an attempted deception.

In the morning of 26 November 2002, an elderly woman was approached by two women and one man in Sha Tin claiming they knew a supernatural doctor who could dispel bad luck and cure illnesses.

Convinced by the group of three, the victim took cash and valuables totalling $48,000 from her home and went to withdraw another $40,000 from a bank.

Feeling suspicious, Miss Yiu, a bank teller, informed the Police. Police officers netted one of the suspects. The suspect was sentenced to two years' imprisonment upon conviction of attempt to obtain property by deception.

Mr NG Kwok-wah, another recipient, successfully helped Police arrest a thief.

Mr Ng, manager of a supermarket in Tsim Sha Tsui, received a report on a missing rucksack from a Japanese customer in the evening of January 12 this year.

Although not Japanese-speaking, Mr Ng took the initiative to figure out the situation and intercepted a suspect who was holding the rucksack. The suspect was arrested by police and sentenced to six months' imprisonment upon conviction of theft.

During today's ceremony which was held at the Whiskers Theatre, Ocean Park, all recipients were each presented with a certificate and a cheque of $2,000 for their initiatives in fighting crime.

Officiating guests included the Police Director of Personnel and Training, Mr Foo Tsun-kong; Fight Crime Committee member, Mr Ma Fung-kwok; and Council Member of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC), Mr Daniel Koo.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Ma commended the recipients for their courage, alertness and initiatives. He said they had set a good example for other members of the community.

Mr Koo told the gathering that the HKGCC attached great importance to citizens' concerted efforts to maintain Hong Kong's prosperity for which Police-community cooperation in the fight against crime was essential.

The Good Citizen Award Presentation Ceremony, held twice a year, is organised by the Police Public Relations Branch and sponsored by the HKGCC with Ocean Park giving its support to the latest event by providing a venue free of charge.

Since its launch in 1973, the scheme has seen 3 066 citizens being commended.

Police Report No.1

Issued by PPRB

End/1715hrs, Thursday, June 12, 2003 (KW/LC)

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