Dozens of activists from Hong Kong, the mainland, Taiwan and overseas will launch an expedition to the disputed Diaoyu Islands by October to mark the 10th anniversary of the first successful landing on the islands.
They will set sail from Hong Kong on a vessel, tentatively named Bao Diao II, which means 'defend Diaoyu', to demonstrate Chinese sovereignty over the disputed territory.
The Hong Kong-based Action Committee for Defending the Diaoyu Islands bought the vessel last month for $680,000.
Lawmakers Albert Ho Chun-yan, 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung and Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress, David Chu Yu-lin, will take part in the voyage.
The trip also aims to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Hong Kong activist David Chan Yuk-cheung who drowned during an attempt to land on the islands on September 26, 1996.
On October 7, 1996, Hong Kong resident Chan Yu-nam set foot on the Diaoyus with two Taiwanese, planting the flags of the mainland and Taiwan. The forthcoming voyage to the islands will be the ninth by activists from the city, the mainland and Taiwan since 1996.