Good Citizen Award

About the Good Citizen Award

The Good Citizen Award Scheme is an honorable declaration to honor and recognize those Hong Kong citizens who have assisted the Police in crime fighting. Since 1973, the Award presented twice a year, is organized by the Police Public Relations Branch under the full sponsorship of HKGCC, to reward citizens who have contributed their bit for the community. The scheme was set up as part of the first Fight Crime Campaign, funded by generous donations from Chamber members and the community.

Over the years, almost 4,000 citizens have been commended for their bravery in combating crime, making Hong Kong one of the safest places to live in and do business. For that reason, as Hong Kong Citizens and Chamber members, we must continue to safeguard our city through collaborating efforts between the general public, the business community and the Hong Kong Police. Your contribution and support is of utmost importance in keeping this meaningful and eventful tradition for decades to come.

Good Citizen Award Fund

HKGCC Members have played a crucial role in ensuring the success of the Good Citizen Award. Through Members’ generous support, over 4,000 citizens have been rewarded for helping the Police catch criminals.

The Chamber has been the sole sponsor of the Good Citizen Award since its inception in 1973. The award was set up as part of the first Fight Crime Campaign, funded by donations from members and the community. The purpose of the fund is to provide an immediate reward to citizens who have helped make Hong Kong one of the safest cities in the world in which to live and do business. Over the years, over 4,000 citizens have been commended for their bravery in combating crime.

HKGCC's Good Citizen Award brought out the stars

Over 16,000 people turned out for the first large-scale public presentation of the Chamber's Good Citizen Award on Sunday, July 7, 1974. The entire Tse Wan Shan playground in Wong Tai Sin and surrounding slopes were packed with people eager to watch the "show."

Chamber officers found themselves in unusual company as their colleagues for the day were stars from HKTVB, including several from the popular "Enjoy Yourself Tonight" programme. The stars had turned out to support the Good Citizen Award programme and handed out prizes totalling $29,000 (about $162,000 in today's money) to the 11 crime-fighting citizens selected to receive awards on the day.

The youngest of the 11 was 6-year-old schoolboy Fung Man-chung, who paved the way for the arrest of his kidnappers. He received $5,000 and also became the youngest award winner. Two of the other awardees received $4,000 each for foiling separate robberies.

How the Chamber raised -- and gave away -- millions of dollars

HKGCC Members have played a crucial role in ensuring the success of the Good Citizen Award. Through Members’ generous support, over 4,000 citizens have been rewarded for helping the Police catch criminals.

In the early years of the award, citizens were awarded a certificate and cheque within days of their good deed. The Police would recommend to the Chamber citizens who they thought deserved an award, and the Chamber decided upon the amount. Hundreds of presentations took place at the Chamber by former chairmen, General Committee members and directors, but in the late 1980s it was agreed that Good Citizens should be rewarded in large-scale award presentation ceremonies arranged three or four times annually.

Two fund raising drives have taken place since the establishment of the initial fund of $736,400 ($4.1 million in today's money) in 1973. By August 1979, over 600 awards had been made and the fund had almost been run down. Following discussion between the Government and the Chamber, the Secretary for Home Affairs and the Commissioner of Police recommended that the scheme ought to continue and that a public appeal be organized to raise more funds. One month after the appeal had begun on June 20, 1979, almost $1 million ($5 million in today's money) had been raised.

The last fund raising drive was launched on April 30, 1987, and a target of $2 million was set. By mid-May, the Fund Raising Committee, Chaired by Daniel Koo, had raised some $1.5 million, and by the end of the campaign, $2.012 million ($9.5 million in today's money) had been secured, which has been sufficient to keep the award running for almost two decades.

For this fund raising drive, we hope to replenish the fund through members' generous donations and a special fund raising dinner which will take place after HKGCC's Annual General Meeting on April 25, 2006, to ensure the scheme continues for many more years.

Following is a list of companies that donated to the Good Citizen Award during past fund-raising drives.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list, the Chamber apologizes for any error which might have occurred.

The Good Citizen Award's oldest crime fighter

Chang Kwan, a sprightly 79-year-old citizen, became the Chamber's oldest recipient of the Good Citizen Award during an awards ceremony on January 9, 1998. Ms Chang prevented a car theft and helped the Police to arrest two suspects. She was presented with a certificate and $3,000 cash award by Fight Crime Committee member Miriam Lau (left) and HKGCC CEO Dr Eden Woon.

Recent Photo Gallery

Press Release

• Good Citizen Award: Working Together for a Safer and Brighter Future



• HKGCC Committed to Supporting Good Citizen Award for 40 Years

The Bulletin Article

• Thanks to our Good Citizens (March, 2019)



• Fighting Crime Together (September 2018)



• Citizens Keeping Hong Kong Safe (March 2018)



• Forty Citizens Commended for Helping Police Fight Crime (September 2017)



• Keeping Hong Kong Safe (March 2017)



• Hong Kong's Good Citizen (February 2016)



• Forty Citizens Commended for Helping Police Fight Crime (June 2015)



• Hong Kong's Crime-busters (February 2015)



• Hong Kong's Crime-busters (June 2014)



• Good Citizen Award Celebrates 40th Anniversary (January 2014)



• HKGCC Committed to Supporting Good Citizen Award (July 2013)

Download the 40th Anniversary Good Citizen Award Commemorative Booklet 2013

The Chamber is proud of the contribution that it has made to Hong Kong as sole sponsor of the Good Citizen Award. In celebration of the 40th anniversary, we have produced a special souvenir booklet.

Download the Good Citizen Award Commemorative Booklet 2006

The Chamber is proud of the contribution that it has made to Hong Kong as sole sponsor of the Good Citizen Award. To help with our fund-raising drive, we have produced a special souvenir booklet.