Hong Kong marine police rescue 4 suspected illegal immigrants spotted on tiny island

In Hong Kong, a fisherman noticed four men on a tiny island who seemed to be in trouble. He quickly informed the authorities. The marine police discovered the men on Peaked Hill, which is located to the southwest of Lantau Island. The incident occurred on a Saturday afternoon. The police sent a patrol boat to rescue three of the men and brought them to a marine police station. The fourth man, who was injured but still awake, was taken off the island by a helicopter. After the rescue, the police continued to search the surrounding waters for any additional individuals who might be in the same situation.

Over the past couple of months, there have been several arrests related to illegal entry into Hong Kong. The police have reported that 119 individuals from South Asian countries were detained in various incidents. Recently, 13 Bangladeshi men were found on Shek Kwu Chau island, claiming they had no food or water. This year, the number of illegal immigrants apprehended has significantly increased compared to the previous year, with a total of 1,241 arrests. To combat this issue, Hong Kong police have collaborated with mainland Chinese authorities to target the networks responsible for human smuggling.

Chris Tang, the security chief, explained that the surge in illegal immigration is linked to an increase in flights from Pakistan and Bangladesh to mainland China. Many of these individuals travel to Hong Kong through neighboring cities and then surrender to the police on small islands, seeking asylum. However, Tang emphasized that Hong Kong has a strict system for reviewing such claims, and only a small percentage of applicants are granted the right to stay for their protection.