Thanks to the good citizens' assistance, some 40 persons have been arrested for a variety of crimes, including phone deception, theft, burglary, robbery, wounding and indecent assault. 

 

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Director of Management Services Chiu Wai-yin said that since inception of the GCA scheme in 1973, there had been more than 3 900 GCA recipients and their contributions deserved commendation and recognition. 

 

Pointing out that partnership with the community played an important role in maintaining Hong Kong as a stable society, Ms Chiu urged members of the public to continue to join hands with the police to fight crime and maintain Hong Kong as one of the safest and most stable societies in the world. 

 

The Chairman of the Women Executives Club of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC), Mrs Margaret Leung, said the HKGCC sponsored the GCA in order to commend those who helped the police fight crime, and would continue to do so for promoting the spirit of bravery.

 

Fight Crime Committee member, Mr Wilfred Ng Sau-kei, noted that there were decreases in crime figures in the past few years. He pointed out that, besides having a first-class police force, it was also essential to forge mutual trust and partnership between the public and police, adding that he looked forward to continuous public support for the police to maintain law and order.

 

The two GCYA winners, Mr Cheung Lap-yee and Mr Koon Sze-keung, worked as security guards in a housing estate when they witnessed a colleague attacking another colleague with a chopper. They immediately subdued the armed man, who was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent. 

 

Three GCA recipients, Mr Ng Wai-leung, Mr Lam Tak-sang and Mr Seeto Wing, helped foil phone scams. They all received phone calls from swindlers who claimed that their sons were being detained, and demanded ransoms. Being suspicious of the calls, they reported their cases to the police, who subsequently arrested the swindlers. 

 

Three GCA recipients helped the police arrest thieves involved in illegal cutting of incense trees. Two villagers, Mr Yiu Kam-wah and Mr Yiu Man-fai, alerted the police and other villagers when they suspected that illegal tree cutting was taking place. Later another villager, Mr Wong Ming-tat, spotted three suspects and followed them before making a report to the police, who later arrested the suspects. 

 

At the presentation ceremony, the GCA winners each received a certificate and a cheque for $3 000 while the two GCYA winners were each presented with a plaque and a cash award of $4 000.

 

Presented twice a year, the GCA scheme is organised by the Police Public Relations Branch with sponsorship of the HKGCC.