Mainland firm buys aircraft carrier

A mainland company has bought a former Soviet Union aircraft carrier and moored it near Hong Kong - the second mysterious purchase in recent months.

With international concerns about Beijing's intentions to acquire an operational carrier heightening, the former pride of Russia's Pacific fleet, Minsk, was towed to Dongguan late last month.

The rusting vessel has been bought by an unknown mainland company, Shenzhen Minsk, from a South Korean trader, Young Distribution Company, for a price believed to be US$5 million (HK$38.5 million).

The South Korean firm's spokesman said it had guarantees from the purchaser - which he would not disclose - that they would use it for scrap metal and not military purposes.

It will be converted into a pleasure cruiser by the Dongguan Engineering Steel Industry Company, according to a report in the Dongguan Bao.

However, military analysts last night raised fears that it could be earmarked for more sinister purposes. The Minsk could be repaired for operations as an ocean-going aircraft carrier, or taken apart by Chinese technicians to increase their knowledge of the sophisticated warships, they said.