HK-flagged boat detained in RP

HK-flagged boat detained in RP

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP): A Hong Kong-registered fishing boat and its crew of four have been detained by the Navy in this southern city for illegal entry, official sources said yesterday.

Sixth Naval District officials who asked not to be named said the Seawell, a 20.7-meter boat, was intercepted by a naval gunboat off nearby Santa Cruz island on Wednesday night.

The crew, who did not speak any English and had "no pertinent papers on board," told investigators through an interpreter that they were just passing through. They would not say where they were headed or where they came from, the sources said.

It was the second interception by the Navy in the last three weeks.