Local authorities have awarded more than 5 million yuan (US$602,410) to 86 brave city residents who sacrificed their lives or were injured while fighting crime during the past five years.

The city government initiated a monthly award ceremony in May 1999 to honor residents for their bravery in fighting against crimes or helping others out of danger.

Officials say nearly 1,500 heroes have been honored so far, 10 of whom lost their lives in struggles against criminals while another 76 were wounded.

"We have never stopped our efforts to improve the reward and security system for those brave people," said Yang Changchun, an official with the Shanghai General Affairs Administration Office.

He said the financial rewards included insurance premiums, medical expenses and pensions.

In September 2003, city authorities raised the top prize for individuals from 1,000 yuan to 2,000 yuan. The medical insurance premium was increased to 5,000 yuan from 2,000 yuan and the accidental injury compensation was bumped up to 120,000 yuan from the original 50,000 yuan.

The special fund for heroes are collected through governmental allocations, social donations and other methods.

For example, the Shanghai Finance Bureau appropriates 1.5 million yuan annually to publicize the names of brave individuals and reward them for their heroic deeds.

Local companies such as Shanghai Baosteel Group Corp and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp have contributed money to the cause, and authorities have raised more than 10 million yuan from social organizations since 2000.

During the past five years, governmental departments at all levels have gone to great lengths to better the life for martyrs' families and the wounded, officials said.

Fu Jiwei, a local man, received injuries to his left hand on December 23, 1999 while chasing a suspected robber. Fu lost his job due to the hand injury and his family has struggled to make ends meet ever since. Local postal service department learned about Fu's dilemma and arranged for him to run a newsstand.

Officials also noted that the number of brave migrants is on the rise.

"For migrant heroes, the city government will assure them of the same treatment as local heroes," Yang said.

Chen Dejin, a Jiangsu Province native, was stabbed nine times during a struggle with a robber in August 2000 and spent the following year undergoing treatment in a local hospital.

To free Chen from financial worries, city officials made several trips to his hometown and made arrangements for his family's future life with their counterparts there. In 2002, Chen was granted a pension by Jiangsu authorities.

(Shanghai Daily December 21, 2004)