HONGKONG'S rescue services are seeking approval to use Chinese oil rigs in the South China Sea as helicopter bases to dramatically extend their range during disasters.
Security Branch officials have already obtained approval in principle from Beijing for the move - sparked by the fatal DB 29 barge disaster in August 1992 - but final details are still being hammered out.
The move will allow Royal Hongkong Auxiliary Air Force and RAF helicopters to land and refuel on three Chinese rigs about 100 nautical miles south of the territory in the Huizhou oil field.
''It will mean big changes to the way we do things and allow us to be more effective,'' an auxiliary air force spokesman said yesterday.
''It will give us much more flexibility, being able to fly further out to sea, and will give us a base to position helicopters.'' Currently, the RHKAAF Sikorsky helicopters have a range of about 150 miles.
Because winching operations are performed in darkness only in extreme cases, ships with injured crew often have to sail to within daylight range before a rescue can take place.
