Illegal immigrants arrested after speedboat capsizes off Sai Kung

Five illegal immigrants from South Asia were arrested early yesterday after they swam ashore from a speedboat that capsized off Sai Kung.

Police are hunting for two Chinese men, suspected of being people smugglers, who also swam ashore but escaped.

The five passengers, one from Sri Lanka and four from Pakistan, boarded the speedboat on the mainland about 7pm on Sunday, police said, and were thrown into the water when it capsized, probably in heavy seas, shortly after entering Hong Kong waters.

Police were alerted after the 24-year-old Sri Lankan sought help from people camping at Tai Long Wan in Sai Kung East Country Park about 1am yesterday. He had suffered minor injuries and was treated at Tseung Kwan O Hospital.

Following the arrest, officers mounted a land and sea search.

A police spokeswoman said the four Pakistanis, aged between 21 and 29, were later arrested in Tung Wan, about 2km from Tai Long Wan. They also suffered minor scratch wounds and were taken by helicopter to Eastern Hospital for treatment. Officers found no trace of the two other men. Last night, the five were being held for questioning. No one had been charged.