Hong Kong ships collision: 11 Chinese cargo crew members missing

Eleven crew members have been reported missing after two cargo ships collided off the coast of southern Hong Kong, a police official said.

The incident, which involved a cargo ship and a container vessel, happened in the early hours of May 5 near Po Toi Island, reports said.

The cargo ship is believed to have sunk with its 12-member crew on board. One man was rescued by a fishing boat.

Chinese officials are now conducting a search and rescue mission.

The mission was being co-ordinated by the Guangdong Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre and Hong Kong had also sent rescue boats and a helicopter to the area, the South China Morning Post newspaper said.

China was sending more than a dozen ships and at least three helicopters to the area, state-run Xinhua news agency said.

The rescued crew member was in hospital suffering minor injuries, a police official told AFP news agency.

Hong Kong is one of the world’s busiest ports and has a relatively strong safety record.

Hundreds of vessels, from commuter ferries to container ships, ply its waters daily

Last year, about 85 people were injured when a high-speed ferry near the island of Hei Ling Chau hit what officials said was an unidentified object.

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