Police have arrested another group of suspected illegal migrants attempting to enter Hong Hong via Lantau.

Marine Police intercepted a sampan near Fan Lau in southwest Lantau at 5am today and detained seven non-Chinese males, aged between 26 and 34. Separately, they also arrested a 45 year-old Chinese man suspected of collaborating with the group.

It was the fourth time police have intercepted would-be migrants on or near Lantau since the beginning of the year. It is and the second time in eight days the visitors have tried to enter via the remote village of Fan Lau. Altogether 35 have been arrested.

On earlier occasions the suspects were all South Asian males who had flown legally to Guangzhou and then entered Hong Kong waters by boat. Police did not reveal the nationality of those arrested today.