1.
GV SAMPANS IN HONG KONG HARBOUR (2 SHOTS)
0.22

2.
SV SAMPANS
0.27

3.
SV NAVAL PATROL BOAT
0.35

4.
SV SAILOR AT CONTROLS
0.38

5.
SV PAN..SMALL BOATS
0.48

6.
SV INTERVIEW BEGINS "INSPECTOR, WHAT ARE YOU..."
0.50

7.
SV OVERLAY -- SMALL CRAFT (3 SHOTS)
0.56

8.
SV SAILOR ON BOARD NAVAL BOAT
0.59

9.
SV SMALL BOATS (2 SHOTS)
1.07

10.
SV SAILOR TO CONTROL
1.10

11.
SV PATROL BOAT ALONGSIDE SAMPAN
1.15

12.
SV SAILOR
1.20

13.
SV STEAMER PAST
1.25

14.
GV HONG KONG HARBOUR
1.31


TRANSCRIPT: SEQ. 6: INTERVIEWER: "INSPECTOR, WHAT ARE YOU PARTICULARLY LOOKING FOR WHEN YOU GO ON BOARD THESE SMALL CRAFT?"



INSPECTOR: "WELL, PRIMARILY WE'RE LOOKING FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND CONTRABAND SUCH AS NARCOTICS AND GOLD, POSSIBLY ARMS, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD OF A CASE OF THAT FOR YEARS. SECONDLY, WE'RE LOOKING FOR MINOR INFRINGEMENTS UNDER THE MERCHANT SHIPPING LAWS SUCH AS LICENSING OFFENCES, NO MASTER ON BOARD, NO ENGINEER ON BOARD, INSUFFICIENT LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES. BUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS OUR MAJOR POINT."




Initials RGH/V/AS/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: HONG KONG HARBOUR -- ONE OF THE BUSIEST IN THE WORLD -- IS CONSTANTLY WATCHED OVER AND PATROLLED BY THE COLONY'S MARINE POLICE FORCE -- NOW ALMOST 100 YEARS OLD.

THE HARBOUR IS "ALIVE" 24 HOURS A DAY, A RIOT OF MOVEMENT AND COLOUR. MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE LIVE ON THE WATER THERE ALL THEIR LIVES, IN SAMPANS TIED UP IN HUGE ARMADAS TUCKED AWAY IN THE DAYS.

THEN THERE'S THE BIG TRAFFIC -- SOMETHING LIKE 40 TO 50 FREIGHTERS ARRIVING EACH DAY -- MANY FROM THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WITH CARGOES OF THOUSANDS OF TONS OF FOOD.

THROUGH ALL THIS TRAFFIC WORK THE MARINE POLICE -- ON WATCH AROUND THE CLOCK. BUT DESPITE THE INTENSIVE SHIPPING THEY SAY THERE'S VERY LITTLE ILLEGAL TRAFFIC. PILFERING IS LOW COMPARED TO LEVELS AT OTHER MAJOR INTERNATIONAL PORTS. SENIOR INSPECTOR NOEL FRAMPTON WAS ASKED WHAT HIS PATROLS REALLY SEARCHED FOR: