Seven mainland women arrested trying to cross border at Deep Bay
Seven women arrested trying to enter HK or leave after living and working in city illegally
Marine police arrested seven mainland women trying to cross the border illegally by sea at Deep Bay yesterday.
Officers spotted a five-metre-long speedboat, which had no navigation lights, near the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor at about 2.30am. They pursued it and when it ran aground at Ngau Hom Sha, Lau Fau Shan, eight passengers ran ashore.
Police arrested the seven women, but a man, whom police suspect was the "snakehead" or organiser, fled on foot.
Three of the women, aged from 52 to 59, had two-way permits which had expired two years ago. Police believe they had worked illegally in Hong Kong before making an attempt to return home.
The other four passengers had paid 3,000 yuan (HK$3,700) each to sneak into Hong Kong from Shekou and had stayed on board the speedboat as they had not reached their drop-off point.
The officer said marine police arrest between 30 and 50 mainlanders as illegal immigrants or overstayers every year as they attempt to sneak back to Shenzhen and Shekou by boat after working illegally in Hong Kong.