Forty-one good citizens commended for fighting crime

Forty-one citizens who had helped the Police fight crime were commended at the Good Citizen Award (GCA) Presentation Ceremony today (January 5).

One of them won the top honour of the year - Good Citizen Year Award, while the rest, comprising 37 men and three women, received the Good Citizen Award.

The Good Citizen Award Presentation Ceremony, held twice a year, was organised by the Police Public Relations Branch with full sponsorship from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC).

Mr Tse Kin-fai, winner of the Good Citizen Year Award, helped subdue a man who snatched a mobile phone from a woman and hurt her with a cutter near MTR Shau Kei Wan Station on November 28, 2004.

Mr Tse was injured in the hand and neck in the pursuit of the suspect. The man was arrested and later sentenced to a 4-year-and-4-month imprisonment upon conviction of robbery and assault with intent to resist lawful apprehension.

Mr Tse was presented with a plaque and a cash award of $3,000. Each of the Good Citizen Award winners was presented with a certificate and a cheque of $2,000.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Lee Ming-kwai commended the recipients for their courage and commitment to the society. He noted that without the help of these good citizens, some criminals might still be at large and continue to commit crimes.

"They had set good examples for other citizens of Hong Kong," he added.

Other officiating guests included the CEO of the HKGCC, Dr Eden Woon; and member of the Fight Crime Committee, Mr Clement Tao Kwok-lau.

Dr Woon said: "We have sponsored this award since 1973, and surely we will continue our support to this meaningful activity."

Also speaking at the ceremony, Mr Tao noted that the full support and cooperation of Hong Kong citizens was most crucial in the fight and prevention against crime.

GCA recipient, Mr Luk Chi-nam assisted the Police in arresting a man who grabbed a woman's handbag after hitting her head a few times with a hammer outside KCR Mong Kok Station on November 9, 2004. The victim was seriously injured and stayed in hospital for 39 days. The man was sentenced to six years' imprisonment upon conviction of robbery.

Another award recipient, Mr Gerard Joseph Pahl helped his neighbours in the arrest of two burglars.

In the late afternoon on October 23, 2005, Mr Pahl saw a couple who were his neighbours chasing and shouting after two men who tried to burgle their house at Surfside Villa, Tuen Mun. He gave chase on a bicycle and when the suspects tried to escape on board a public light bus, he thwarted it with his bicycle. The duo then climbed out of the bus and fled towards a shopping arcade but was intercepted by the husband. The two suspects were arrested for burglary with breaking.

With their help, about 40 culprits were arrested for a variety of offences including wounding, robbery, indecent assault and blackmail.


Police Report No.5

Issued by PPRB

Ends/Thursday, January 5, 2006