Hong Kong authorities launch air-and-sea search for man, 67, who went missing after his boat sank
- Police are investigating whether 10-metre-long wooden boat is being used to smuggle frozen meat across border with mainland China when it sank off Brothers islands
- Two others on board the vessel also fell into the sea but were rescued by Marine police and sent to hospital for treatment
Hong Kong authorities have launched an air-and-sea search for a 67-year-old man who went missing after he and two others fell into the sea when their boat sank.
A force insider said police were investigating whether the 10-metre-long wooden boat was being used to smuggle frozen meat across the border with mainland China when it sank off the Brothers islands, north of Lantau Island, soon after 11pm on Wednesday. Emergency personnel were then called in.
“Sacks of frozen meat were found floating at the site where the boat sank,” he said on Thursday.
Three local men, who were aboard the vessel, fell into the water, sparking the search and rescue operation, according to police.
“Two of them, aged 33 and 42, were plucked from the sea by Marine police,” a police spokesman said, adding that the pair suffered no obvious injuries and were taken to Tuen Mun Hospital for treatment.
He said the third crew member – the 67-year-old man – had gone missing.
As of midday on Wednesday, the search and rescue operation, involving the deployment of a government helicopter, was still ongoing.
According to the force, vessels from the Marine police, Fire Services Department and Marine Department were involved in the operation.
The Fire Services Department said its diving teams were also mobilised.
The cause of the incident remained unknown and the investigation was ongoing, the Marine Department said.
Sea change: Hong Kong law enforcers turn screw on cross-border smugglers
Customs and police officers arrested 10 people and confiscated more than HK$17 million (US$2.18 million) worth of frozen meat and offal after intercepting two cargo vessels off Lantau Island last Thursday and off Lamma Island on Tuesday. Cranes fitted on the vessels were used to load bags of frozen meat into speedboats which came from the mainland to pick up the goods.
Previously, cross-border smuggling syndicates used barges as their mobile warehouses and operated their illegal trade in the city’s northwest. They were forced to change tactics, such as the use of cargo vessels, after local authorities stepped up operations against them, following the death of a police officer in a high-speed sea chase in northwest Hong Kong waters in September.
