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The Government Flying Service (GFS) rescued 16 crew members on board a Mainland-registered container vessel "Fu Feng" which had lost engine power and stranded about 40 nautical miles from the eastern boundary of Hong Kong waters last (July 23) night.

At about 7.30 pm yesterday, the GFS was informed by the Marine Department's Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) that the 80-metre long vessel sent out a distress call and requested assistance to rescue the crew.

The GFS deployed both fixed-wing aircraft and "Superpuma" helicopter together to the scene to conduct the rescue operation. Due to the difficulty of the situation, they were deployed three times in order to complete the whole mission. Sixteen crew members on board the vessel were subsequently rescued. None of them were injured.

The search and rescue operation stood down at about 6.15 am this (July 24) morning. The GFS deployed 15 pilots and crewmen to carry out the operation.

End/Thursday, July 24, 2003

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