Mainland Chinese trio arrested over illegal entry after rescue from sinking boat in Hong Kong waters, another person from vessel still missing
- Source says police are investigating if illegal employment is involved in the incident
- 47-year-old mainland man suspected to have been trapped in the boat’s cabin reported missing
Hong Kong police have arrested three men from mainland China over unlawful entry after they were rescued from a sinking fishing boat in the city’s waters, with an air and sea search still under way for a missing person from the vessel.
A source familiar with the case said on Tuesday that police were investigating if illegal employment was involved in the incident.
The suspects, aged 33 to 41, were among four people plucked from the sea on Monday night after they abandoned their boat and jumped into waters south of Tsing Yi at about 8.45pm that evening.
The fourth rescued person is a local resident. A search is under way for a fifth individual, believed to also be a mainlander.
Police were notified at about 8.45pm on Monday when the Hong Kong-registered fishing boat was taking in water south of the city. The rescue mission was then launched.
“The boat’s engine room took in water due to big waves and strong winds,” the source said. He added that four of the five crew members jumped into the sea when the vessel was sinking.
Police said the four men – three mainlanders and a 37-year-old local resident – were later rescued. They suffered no external injuries and were sent to Princess Margaret Hospital for examination.
According to the force, the fifth crew member – a 47-year-old mainland man – was suspected to have been trapped in the boat’s cabin. He was reported missing.
A huge search, involving the deployment of a government helicopter and boats from marine police, Marine Department and Fire Services Department, continued in the area on Tuesday.
The source said the wooden fishing boat had been returning to the city from Shekou at the time of the incident.
It was the second maritime incident in Hong Kong waters in three days.
A crew member of a mainland cargo vessel died and two others were rescued last Friday after their 30-metre (98 foot) boat hit a reef and took on water between Po Toi Island and Lamma Island soon before 7am.
Government helicopters were alerted and rescued one man from the stricken boat while another was found on Po Toi Island.
A third crew member was found unconscious in the water and airlifted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, where he died.
