Wang Jingli

wangjingli0715@163.com

THREE undergraduates from Shenzhen University (SZU) received the Hong Kong Good Citizen Award (GCA) 2024 for their courageous act of saving a life at an award presentation ceremony held yesterday in Hong Kong.

They are He Jinmiao, Wang Haolin, and Wen Jianbin, members of the class of 2021. He and Wen are from the College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, and Wang is from the College of Electronics and Information Engineering.

This is the first time in nearly two decades that mainland university students have received the award, according to SZU.

In the early hours of Jan. 18, 2024, the three students were waiting for a bus back to Shenzhen near Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong when they saw a woman fall into the sea.

He immediately threw a lifebuoy from the shore and called the police while Wang and Wen sought help from nearby bystanders and called out to the woman to reassure her.

Within minutes, Hong Kong police and firefighters arrived at the scene, rescued the woman, and rushed her to the hospital for treatment.

According to Hong Kong police,  the three students did not leave despite the late hour. Instead, they stayed to confirm the situation and calmly participated in the rescue. It was their sense of responsibility that saved a life.

The award — introduced in 1973  — seeks to encourage members of the public to report crimes to the police, be prepared to act as witnesses, and help others when appropriate.

When asked about their feelings on receiving the award, the students expressed that it was a tremendous affirmation for them. “This award is an honor for us. It represents not only recognition but also a responsibility. It also encourages us to lend a hand when others are in trouble and to do more good deeds within our capacity,” said Wen.

Wang added, “We also hope to use this opportunity to showcase the positive image of SZU students, promote exchanges between the mainland and Hong Kong, and serve as a bridge between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.”

It is reported that SZU regularly conducts safety training, lectures on fire prevention, anti-fraud, and first aid, and emergency response drills to enhance the safety awareness and crisis management skills of its students and staff.