Good citizens commended for fighting crime
Forty good citizens who had helped the Force fight crime were commended at the Good Citizen Award (GCA) Presentation Ceremony on June 13.
The awardees comprised 35 men and five women. With their help, more than 40 culprits were arrested for a variety of offences, including wounding, robbery, theft, burglary, indecent assault, criminal damage, false accounting and deception. Each awardee was presented with a certificate and a cheque for $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).
Ms Jennifer Carver McLennan, a staff member of a worldwide hedge fund company, received an award for helping the Police arrest a man who made a false account.
In June 2004, Ms McLennan suspected that her colleague, a fund manager, did not honestly invest in hedge funds, and made a report to the Securities and Futures Commission. With her assistance, Police found that the manager had set up bogus hedge funds and transferred the investors' money to bank accounts under his control. He also falsified financial statements which incurred a total loss of $363 million by investors. The suspect was arrested and was subsequently sentenced to 4.5 years' imprisonment upon conviction of 19 counts of false accounting.
Another award recipient, Mr Wong Chi-shing, assisted Police in arresting a woman who conspired to defraud a housewife.
On October 28, 2006, a housewife was persuaded by three women on the street in Tuen Mun to conduct a spiritual blessing ritual. She then handed over some $200,000 in cash and valuables to the trio. When the victim saw them swapping her properties with newspapers at the ritual, she shouted for help. Mr Wong, a passer-by, was alerted. He helped chase after the suspects and finally subdued one of them. The suspect was sentenced to three years' imprisonment upon conviction of conspiracy to defraud.
Commending the awardees for their courage, vigilance and spontaneity, Director of Personnel and Training Tang Hau-sing said that the GCA was a good example showing how citizens supported and co-operated with the Police to fight crime.
It also showed that the spirit of helping each other could facilitate the harmonious development of society, Mr Tang added.
Other officiating guests included a representative of HKGCC, Ms Sylvia Chung, and member of the Fight Crime Committee, Dr Tse Wing-ling.
Ms Chung said the Chamber had sponsored the GCA since 1973 with over 3, 000 ardent and brave citizens commended in past years. The joint efforts of the Police and the public in the fight against crime had made Hong Kong a prosperous society.
Prior to the presentation ceremony, a new TV Announcement in the Public Interest (API) "Mind Your Belongings" was premiered to kick off the Fight Crime Publicity Campaign 2007/08.
The TV API, in both Cantonese and English versions, calls on members of the public to safeguard their belongings at all times, hold on to them and never let them out of sight.
The TV API and a corresponding radio API with Cantonese, Putonghua and English versions started broadcasting on local TV and radio stations on the evening of June 13. The campaign also comes with posters and outdoor advertising to echo the message.
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, Social Welfare Department, Home Affairs Department and District Fight Crime Committees.
Two guests - a representative of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Ms Sylvia Chung, and a member of the Fight Crime Committee, Dr Tse Wing-ling, along with Director of Personnel and Training Tang Hau-sing, officiate at the opening of the presentation ceremony