Forty-one citizens were honoured at the Good Citizen Award Presentation Ceremony on December 6 for helping police fight crime. One of them won the top honour - Good Citizen of the Year Award - while the rest, comprising 36 men and four women, received the Good Citizen Award (GCA). The presentation ceremony, held twice a year, was organised by the Police Public Relations Branch with full sponsorship from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC).

Mr Choi Fu-cheung, winner of the Good Citizen of the Year Award, helped police arrest two of three men who had attacked two jewellers with knives and took off with a box containing $3 million worth of jewellery, near their office in Jordan on June 23, 2006.

Mr Choi, a security manager, saw the attack and immediately grabbed a metal pipe to stop the attackers, but the culprits hit back and wounded him. Mr Choi gave chase despite his injuries but soon lost sight of the culprits.

Acting on information, police later arrested six illegal immigrants from the Mainland. Two of them were connected with the case and were charged with robbery.

Mr Choi was presented with a plaque and a cash award of $3,000. Each of the other GCA winners received a certificate and a cheque for $2,000.

Commending the awardees for their vigilance and bravery, Acting Commissioner Fung Siu-yuen said the GCA was a good example of citizens supporting and co-operating with the police in fighting crime. It also underscored the importance for the police and the community to combat crime in partnership.

Other officiating guests included the Vice-chairman of the Manpower Committee of HKGCC, Mr Matthias Li, and member of the Fight Crime Committee, Mr Vincent Fang Kang.

Mr Li said that since HKGCC started sponsoring the award scheme in 1973, more than 80 brave and righteous citizens were commended each year for their contribution to the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.

One of the GCA recipients, Mr Shum Kong-tsang, has assisted the police in netting three men for conspiring to defraud.

On January 19, this year, Mr Shum received a phone call from a man asking for help to sell some gold artifacts unearthed from a construction site. Mr Shum later went to meet three men. During the meeting, he suspected it was a trap and made an excuse and left. On January 23, the three men called again for a meeting and Mr Shum made a report to the police.

On the following day, police arrested the trio when they met Mr Shum. A large quantity of fake gold artifacts were found on them, and further investigation revealed that they were involved in two other similar cases involving $590,000.

The three men were jailed for two to three years for conspiring to defraud.

Thanks to the help of the 41 good citizens, over 50 suspects have been arrested for a variety of offences, including wounding, robbery, deception, theft and outraging public decency.

Mr Fung commends the public-spirited citizens for bravery and alertness