THE Hong Kong region is singled out for concern in an international report which details the hijacking of ships by pirates using firearms and excessive violence.
Four piracy-related incidents were reported in Hong Kong waters last year compared to none the year before - one being the sensitive Tequila cargo vessel hijacking on which the Hong Kong Government is still awaiting a report from China.
The Hong Kong-Luzon-Hainan region was picked out by the International Maritime Bureau report as an area which required continued monitoring.
There were 14 incidents of either hijacking, boarding and seizing goods, or attempted boarding - a fall of 19 from 1993 - highlighting a downward trend in overall incidents.
The incidents in Hong Kong waters included a hijacking, two boardings and one attempted boarding. Two occurred while vessels were at anchor near Lamma.
Reported piracy incidents around the world fell from 103 in 1993 to 90 last year, and from 68 to 38 in the Far East.
But the number of actual vessels boarded increased from 28 in 1993 to 49 last year, and hijackings rose from zero to five.