Of the honoured citizens, one was presented with the Good Citizen Year Award, and 40 with Good Citizen Awards.

Year Award winner Ms Lo Wai-hing received a plaque and a cash prize of $3,000, whilst the 40 Good Citizen Award winners each received a certificate and a cash prize of $2,000.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Director of Operations Yam Tat-wing commended the award recipients for their courage and bravery, and for setting a good example for fellow citizens.

Officiating at the ceremony with Mr Yam were Member of the Manpower Committee of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC), Mr Yeung Ka-sing, and Member of the Fight Crime Committee, Professor Shek Tan-lei.

Mr Yeung said the joint efforts of the public and the police in the fight against crime helped make Hong Kong a prosperous and stable society.

Altogether, the award recipients had assisted in the arrest of 41 criminals in a variety of cases, including murder, wounding, robbery, indecent assault, theft, and conspiracy to defraud.

The Good Citizen Year Award winner, Ms Lo had assisted in arresting a man who attacked three kids with a knife, while they were playing in the corridor of a housing block in Lok Man Sun Chuen, Hung Hom, on February 1.

Witnessing the incident on her way home, Ms Lo went to the aid of one of the kids, ignoring her own safety, and made a report to the Police. Officers later arrested the man and charged him with four counts of wounding. He was subsequently committed to Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre for a period of 12 months.

Two youngest award recipients, Cheng Wai-hing and Yau Tsz-ngo, both 12 years old, assisted in arresting a teenage boy who snatched a mobile phone from a bag left unattended at a basketball court in Tuen Mun on May 26.

Alerted by the victim's hue and cry, they gave chase and stopped the boy after a hot pursuit. Officers arrested the boy and recovered the mobile phone. He was later put on supervision under the Superintendent's Discretion Scheme.

Prior to the presentation ceremony, a new television Announcement in the Public Interest (API) was premiered to kick off the Fight Crime Publicity Campaign 2004/05 Phase II. The TV API, with both Cantonese and English versions, calls on the public to use their "eye, ear, mouth and hand" to help fight crime.

The TV API and a radio API with Cantonese, Putonghua and English versions are being broadcast on local TV and radio stations.

Other publicity materials, including posters and outdoor electronic media advertising, will also be used to publicise the campaign's messages on fighting youth crimes, computer hacking, and drug abuse.

The Good Citizen Award Scheme,launched in 1973, is held twice a year by the Police Public Relations Branch with sponsorship by the HKGCC.

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.

D OPS Yam Tat-wing and guests signal the start of the presentation ceremony