Thirty-nine good citizens commended for fighting crime

Thirty-nine good citizens who had helped the Police fight crime were commended at the Good Citizen Award (GCA) Presentation Ceremony today (June 22).

The awardees comprised 33 men and six women with one of them received two awards. With their help, more than 40 culprits were arrested for a variety of offences including wounding, robbery, theft, indecent assault, blackmail and arson.

Each awardee was presented with a certificate and a cheque of $2,000.

The presentation ceremony is organised twice a year by the Police Public Relations Branch with full sponsorship from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC).

Mr To Kin-fai received two awards for helping to arrest a robber and a thief in Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po respectively.

On the night of December 14, 2005, three men attacked an expatriate woman and robbed her mobile phone and handbag in Mong Kok. Alerted by the victim's hue and cry, Mr To, a lorry driver, chased after the culprits, subdued one of them and recovered some of the stolen properties. The man was arrested and later sentenced to a training centre upon conviction of robbery.

In the second case, a man made off with a handbag left unattended in a shop in Sham Shui Po on the night of January 17, 2006. The victim shouted for help and chased after the man. Mr To joined in the chase and intercepted him. The stolen handbag was recovered and the suspect was arrested. He was sentenced to a drug addiction treatment centre upon conviction of theft.

Commending the awardees for their courage, vigilance and spontaneity, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mr Tang King-shing said that they had set good examples for other citizens of Hong Kong.

He also thanked HKGCC for having raised about one million dollars for GCA fund at its anniversary dinner held in April.

General Committee Member of the HKGCC, Mr Stanley Hui said that the Chamber had sponsored the Award since 1973 with over 3 000 citizens commended and would continue to support the meaningful scheme.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Member of the Fight Crime Committee, Ms Vivien Chan noted that the full support and cooperation of Hong Kong citizens was most crucial in the fight against crime.

Prior to the presentation ceremony, a new TV Announcement in the Public Interest (API) on deceptions was premiered to kick off the Fight Crime Publicity Campaign 2006/07.

The API, with both Cantonese and English versions, calls on members of the public to stay alert and beware of swindlers at all times.

The TV API and a radio API with Cantonese, Putonghua and English versions will be broadcast on local TV and radio stations from today.

The Fight Crime Publicity Campaign is planned and implemented by the Fight Crime Committee Publicity Sub-Committee comprising representatives from the Security Bureau, Police, Information Services Department, Education and Manpower Bureau, Social Welfare Department, Home Affairs Department and District Fight Crime Committees.


Police Report No. 8

Issued by PPRB

Ends/Thursday, June 22, 2006