Eighty citizens and seven organisations commended for helping Police fight crime (with photos)
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The “Good Citizen Award (GCA) Presentation Ceremony 2023”, organised by the Hong Kong Police Force, was held today (March 17) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Eighty citizens were commended for assisting the Force in fighting crime and upholding the rule of law. In addition, a total of seven organisations received the Good Organisation Award in recognition of their efforts in supporting the Police in its crime prevention works.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Siu Chak-yee, said that the GCA Scheme, which was established 51 years ago, not only highlights the importance of Police-community co-operation, but also the initial aspiration of the Force to promote community engagement and strengthen connections with various sectors of the community. He attributed the success of the scheme to the support of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC), the Fight Crime Committee (FCC), and stakeholders from all sectors.
Mr Siu particularly mentioned that this year’s awardees included a total of 11 security guards and taxi drivers, who were highly commendable for utilising their work strengths to take the initiative and go the extra mile to help the Police fight crime. Mr Siu urged members of the public to follow their lead and collectively contribute to a stronger safety network in society. He also reminded the public to be vigilant when encountering suspicious phone calls or bank accounts, to familiarise themselves with the correct use of the “Scameter+” mobile application in order to avoid falling prey to scams. He also called on the public to collaborate with the Force in the fight against deception by reporting any suspicions immediately.
Also officiating at the ceremony, the Deputy Chairman of the HKGCC, Ms Agnes Chan, expressed pride in the bravery of the GCA awardees, including the bank staff who successfully intercepted scams and protected victims from further losses. She stated that the business sector would continue to collaborate with the Force and stakeholders to promote crime prevention, making Hong Kong a better place for living and working. A member of the FCC, Mr Siu Chor-kee, said the Committee would be committed to supporting the government and the Force in crime prevention. He also commended the eldest GCA recipient for being vigilant and successfully assisting the Police in combating scams, setting a role model for all citizens.
The 80 good citizens were awarded for assisting the Force in preventing or detecting crime, arresting criminals and saving lives. This year, it is the first time that the “Good Citizen of the Year Award” (GCYA) was presented to six GCA awardees. All of them were boatmen who volunteered to sail out and rescue 37 people from danger during a maritime accident. They were commended for their bravery and resourcefulness. The rescued persons also attended the ceremony to express their gratitude.
The Good Citizen Award Scheme was launched in 1973, co-organised by the Hong Kong Police Force and the FCC, with the support of the HKGCC. Each awardee would receive a certificate and $3,000 whilst the GCYA recipients would be presented with a plaque and $4,000. More than 4,600 citizens have been commended over the years.
With the theme of “Hello ‧ Good Citizen”, the ceremony highlighted the good people and deeds in our daily lives, and thus encouraged more people to assist the Police in combating crime and promoting the “Good Citizen Spirit”. The Award Presentation Ceremony also featured a new video series titled “Hello ‧ Good Citizen”, produced by the Force, with the sub-themes of “Encounter”, “Acquaintance”, “Commitment” and “United” respectively. The videos were adapted from the stories of four GCA awardees, who have also been invited to participate in the film. The series has already been uploaded to the Police’s YouTube channel.