COMMUNICATION between Hongkong's search and rescue agencies is under review following concern over the 90 minutes it took the Marine Department to order helicopters to the scene of Sunday's ship sinking.
Worries over the timing and other communication problems emerged yesterday during a routine debriefing between the department, the Royal Air Force and the Government Flying Services (GFS).
''The sooner rescuers get out there the more likely they are to save lives - that fact has been made clear to all involved and lessons should be learnt,'' one source close to the meeting said.
The British captain, Filipino chief engineer and two crew died after the 7,884-tonne maize ship Lian Gang sank in huge seas near the eye of Typhoon Koryn, 70 nautical miles off Hongkong.
The dramatic rescue mission saw RAF and GFS helicopters winch to safety 24 survivors, sometimes dropping between 15-metre swells to find them.
Thirteen crew remain in satisfactory and fair conditions in Queen Elizabeth Hospital while the rest recuperate at the Mariners' Club in Tsim Sha Tsui.
A working group will be set up following the meeting to examine procedures after the RAF and GFS called for more information earlier whenever a rescue was pending.
