With the help of the awardees - 34 men and six women - more than 50 people were arrested for a variety of offences including theft, burglary, robbery, criminal damage, illegal immigration and indecent assault. Each awardee received a certificate and a cheque for $2,000 at the ceremony.

One of the awardees, Ms Liu Wai-yan, helped Police arrest a man who had obtained a large amount of money with deception.

A victim made a report to Police when he did not receive a dividend warrant of around HK$46 million. An investigation revealed that the payee's name on the dividend warrant was changed from that of the victim to the suspect who was out of Hong Kong. The suspect later made several phone enquiries in relation to his bank account. A bank staff member, Ms Liu , managed to tactfully answer all the suspect's enquiries without disclosing the Police investigation and later convinced the suspect that he had to return to Hong Kong to handle his bank account in person.

The suspect was subsequently arrested on his return. He was charged and jailed for three years.

In another case, Ms Yeung Kwok-ying, Ms Leung Sau-ying and Mr Cheung Wai-kit assisted Police arrest a fraudster.

Ms Yeung was cheated out of a ring and a mobile phone by a woman in April 2008. Last October, she spotted the suspect again who was talking to an old woman in Tsui Yan Street, Sha Tin. Believing that the suspect was cheating other victims, Ms Yeung shouted for help and alerted two passers-by, Ms Leung and Mr Cheung, who managed to subdue the suspect.

Police subsequently arrested the woman who was also wanted for another similar case. She was charged with two counts of theft and jailed for eight months.

Speaking at the ceremony, Director of Personnel and Training Tang Hau-sing praised the awardees for their courage and sense of justice.

He pointed out that their support for the Police was vital in maintaining a stable and harmonious society. Putting together their efforts and joining the police in the fight against crime served as a good example of mutual help in the community as well as Police success in engaging the community.

Member of Manpower Committee, HKGCC, Ms Lau Ka-shi, and member of the Fight Crime Committee, Mr Yau Chung-wan, also attended the ceremony.

Ms Lau said more than 3,500 people had received Good Citizen Awards since the scheme was launched in 1973. A police-community partnership was crucial to maintaining law and order and she hoped the co-operation between Police and the public in the fight against crime would continue. The HKGCC would continue to support this meaningful scheme.

Before the award presentation, a new TV Announcement in Public Interest (API) "Beware of Burglaries" was premiered to launch the Fight Crime Publicity Campaign 2009-10.

The TV API with Cantonese and English versions, and its corresponding radio API with Cantonese, Putonghua and English versions started broadcasting on local TV and radio stations on June 18, calling on the public to stay alert and not to give burglars any chance.

The campaign also comes with posters and other advertising to publicise 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, Home Affairs Department, Information Services Department, Social Welfare Department and District Fight Crime Committees.

Director of Personnel and Training Tang Hau-sing says the award winners have set a good example wth their contributions to the fight against crime

Miss Lau Ka-shi, a member of the HKGCC's Manpower Committee, presents a certificate to a winner

A total of 40 good citizens are honoured at the award presentation

Mr Yau Chung-wan, a member of the Fight Crime Committee, presents a certificate to a Non-ethnic Chinese winner

The theme of the Fight Crime Publicity Campaign 2009-10 is "Beware of Burglaries"

A Police Band piper ushers in the officiating guests