Mainland urged to join war on raiders
MARINE Police have asked for help from mainland patrols to prevent Vietnamese bandits making raids into Hong Kong from ships moored in Chinese waters.
Efforts to tackle the problem of Vietnamese gangs looting properties and raiding fishing vessels and junks around the territory have met with little success.
One gang of 22 men and three women was spotted at noon on Thursday by a small boat unit off west Lantau in Chinese waters.
As the police attempted to escort the 10-metre long wooden ship to Tai O, some of the men doused themselves with petrol and threatened to kill themselves unless police backed off.
The officer in charge allowed the vessel to sail further into Chinese waters.
Police operate in Chinese waters in the west Lantau shore area under agreement with the mainland.
Marine Police Regional Commander Anthony Ferrige said Chinese authorities were asked to assist in preventing the gangs escaping. But police sources said any agreement would be effective only if implemented at operational level.
'Just as these gangs avoid the Hong Kong police by moving into Chinese waters, they avoid the Chinese by moving into Hong Kong waters,' the source said.
Police have only arrested one gang of 10 in more than a year.
