A primary school teacher who took the initiative to improve communication with students ended up helping to secure a rape conviction. Won Wai-man set up a mailbox at his school and encouraged students to use this method to discuss any issues they were too shy to talk about in person. 

On receiving an anonymous note from a student who said she had been molested, Won acted quickly and reported the case to the Police. The culprit was caught and convicted of rape, and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

In recognition of his quick actions, bravery in reporting the case and his professionalism in giving testimony in court, Won was awarded with the Good Citizen of the Year Award. He received a plaque and a cheque for $4,000.

Besides Won, 38 citizens who helped the Police fight crime were also commended at the Good Citizen Award (GCA) Presentation Ceremony 2018 Phase II on March 20. Each received a certificate and a cheque for $3,000. The awards were presented by Police Director of Operations Siu Chak-yee, Chamber CEO Shirley Yuen and Lam Kin-hong, Member of the Fight Crime Committee.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Yuen praised all of the GCA recipients as role models for Hong Kong citizens, and said she hoped more people would be inspired to promote such acts of bravery and justice. HKGCC has sponsored the Awards since the programme was launched in 1973.

Siu said that the GCA echoed one of the strategies of the Police’s newly launched three-year plan, Policing with the Community. He added that the Force would continue to raise public awareness of how the Police and citizens can fight crime together. 

Lam remarked on the continuing decline in crime figures in recent years, which is a result of the long-term mutual trust and cooperation between the Police and the community. 

With the help of the GCA awardees, 40 people were arrested for a variety of offences including trafficking in dangerous drugs, arson with intent, indecent assault and outraging public decency.

The youngest Good Citizen was 15-year-old Ng Mo-ping. Travelling on the MTR, she noticed a man unzipping another passenger’s rucksack and stealing a wallet. She and the victim chased and intercepted the thief when he tried to run off at the next station. The man was convicted of theft and attempted theft, and sentenced to nine months imprisonment.