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Forty civic-minded citizens who helped the Police fight crime were commended at the Good Citizen Award (GCA) Presentation Ceremony today (December 19).
They received Good Citizen Award. One of them also received the Good Citizen of the Year Award (GCYA). With their help, some 40 persons were arrested for a variety of offences including telephone deception, theft, burglary, robbery, wounding and indecent assault.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Secretary for Security and Fight Crime Committee member Mr Lai Tung-kwok noted that citizens who took initiatives to help fight crime with a sense of mission were commended under the scheme in the past four decades. The scheme also helped raise public awareness against crime and promote the spirit of mutual help.
Mr Lai firmly believed that members of the public supported the Police to take professional enforcement actions in a fair, just and impartial manner and joined hands with the Police to maintain law and order. Being the excellent examples, he hoped that the GCA recipients would continue to spread the spirit of "good citizen" to build up a safer and better Hong Kong.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Management), Mr Ma Wai-luk, also thanked the GCA recipients for their contribution to fight crime. He pointed out that partnership with the community played an important role in maintaining Hong Kong as a stable society. Through platforms including Junior Police Call, Senior Police Call, and Working Group on Non-ethnic Chinese, the Force spreads fight crime messages as well as encourages the participation of the community. The Hong Kong Police Mobile Application launched last year and Hong Kong Police YouTube channel launched this year are further steps to strengthen communication between the public and the Force by means of social media, he added.
Mr Ma also thanked the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) for supporting the GCA scheme all these years.
The Chairman of the HKGCC, Mr C K Chow, said that as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations, the Chamber decided to present "Heart of Gold Award" to three past winners to highlight that there is no age limit to fighting crime. The Chamber has also decided to increase the cash award for the scheme.
Mr Chow said, "Saving someone's life or preventing a tragedy is of course priceless. I believe that all awardees acted as they did because they knew it was the right thing to do. They are exemplary citizens, and can very rightly be proud of their courage and achievements."
The Chamber will continue to support this meaningful scheme so that the fight crime spirit can live on, he added.
Mr Leung Ho-yin, the winner of this year's GCYA, witnessed a man being stabbed multiple times by former employee with a knife in Fanling. Mr Leung immediately stepped forward, together with two off-duty Police officers, to subdue the man. The man was convicted of attempted murder and was sentenced to ten-year imprisonment.
This year's youngest recipient, Mr Cheung Tsz-kwun, saw the thief take a packet of ice-cream away from a convenience store without payment. He alerted the staff of the store who intercepted the thief and report to the Police. The thief was convicted of theft and sentenced to two-week imprisonment.
The eldest recipient, Ms Chiu Shui-sheung, helped foil a telephone scam. Ms Chiu received a call from a swindler who claimed to be her grandson. The swindler said he was being detained and demanded for a ransom of $50,000. After Ms Chiu confirmed that her grandson was safe, she reported the case to the Police and helped the Police arrest the swindler.
All GCA winners each received a certificate and a cheque of $3,000. The GCYA winner, in addition, was presented with a plaque and a cash award of $4,000.
Presented twice a year, the GCA is organised by the Police Public Relations Branch and sponsored by the HKGCC. More than 3 900 persons have been commended over the years.
Police Report No. 313
Ends/Thursday, December 19, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:54
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