1 Hong Kong man dead, another missing after falling out of Shenzhen-bound speedboat said to be avoiding police vessel
- As of Thursday morning, a search for the missing man by air, land and sea was still under way, police say
- Police source says it is believed the two men, along with two women, were being smuggled into mainland China
One Hong Kong man is dead and another is missing after they were thrown into the sea from a speedboat as it made a sharp turn to avoid detection by a police vessel off Tuen Mun, sources say, sparking a massive search effort.
The two men, aged 38 and 45, along with two women, aged 24 and 36, boarded the speedboat being piloted by another person at a beach off Lung Kwu Tan Road in Tuen Mun around midnight on Wednesday, according to the force.
The two men were Hong Kong residents, while the two women were from the mainland. The older woman was staying in Hong Kong illegally, and the other held a recognisance form, a temporary identification document that permits the bearer to remain in the city.
A police source said he believed the four were being smuggled into mainland China.
“We don’t rule out the possibility they would have brought some illegal immigrants into the city on their return trip,” he added.
A preliminary investigation suggested that the group spotted a marine police launch as they were making their way towards Shenzhen and attempted to avoid it, according to the source. However, there was no indication the police vessel spotted the speedboat, and it did not pursue it.