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SCMP Reporter

Twenty-six  activists yesterday set off for the disputed Diaoyu Islands to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of David Chan Yuk-cheung  who drowned in 1996 on the first expedition.

Defying a warning of immediate expulsion  issued by the Japanese Foreign Ministry on Saturday, the activists were confident of reaching the islands on Wednesday.

But two leading figures - Democratic Party legislator Albert Ho Chun-yan,  the vice-chairman of the Action Committee for Defending the Diaoyu Islands, and David Chu Yu-lin,  a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress - were not aboard the second-hand metal fishing boat.

Mr Ho,  victim of a violent attack in a Central fast food restaurant in August, said last night he had decided not to join the expedition  because his mother, who was not in good health, had asked him not to.

The boat left  Kowloon public pier in Tsim Sha Tsui  around 3pm.

'We may not land on the islands. It will depend on the situation,' said Mr Ho, who wished the party  good luck.

Mr Ho said the number of people joining the voyage was limited to 26 because of the size of the boat. He said  no insurance company had agreed to cover the expedition. 'Safety is the number one priority of this trip. We will protest against the Japanese over the sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands by peaceful, rational and non-violent means,' Mr Ho said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman  Liu Jianchao  urged the Japanese side to stay  calm over the Diaoyus expedition. 'No Japanese actions should threaten the safety of Chinese people as well as Chinese ships.'



Two leading figures miss Diaoyus voyage