Forty-four citizens were commended at the Good Citizen Award Presentation Ceremony on March 21 for their actions in helping the police to fight crime. The awards were presented by Police Director of Operations Tang Ping-keung, HKGCC General Council Member PC Yu and Alexandra Lo, Member of the Fight Crime Committee.

Speaking at the ceremony, Tang pointed out that Hong Kong’s overall crime figures in 2017 had decreased to a record low since 1975. He said that this was a result of the efforts made by the police with support from the public, and he commended all of the award recipients for their courage, alertness and willingness to help.

Tang thanked the Chamber for sponsoring the programme, which encourages citizens to report crime, and the Fight Crime Committee for its contributions to keeping Hong Kong safe.

With the help of the awardees, more than 30 criminals were arrested for offences including telephone deception, theft, robbery, indecent assault and drug trafficking.

Four of this year’s awardees also received the Good Citizen of the Year Award 2017. In November 2017, Chan Tsz-hin, Fung Ka-yan, Heung Yuk-tong and Yip Siu-leung witnessed a man use a knife to rob a currency exchange shop at Hong Kong International Airport. They reported the crime and followed the man, who was quickly arrested by the police on the basis of the information provided by the award-winners. The man was convicted of robbery and sentenced to five years and four months’ imprisonment.

The eldest awardee was 62-year-old Lau Hon-lun, who helped the police chase a handbag thief who was later sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment.

The youngest recipient, 13-year-old Khan M Hanif, intercepted a man who stole a handbag and helped the victim to recover her property. The man was convicted of theft and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

Each of the awardees received a certificate and a cheque for $3,000, while the Good Citizen of the Year winners were also presented with a plaque and a cheque for $4,000.