Five fishermen aboard a fishing vessel registered in China's Taiwan were rescued Monday by a passing mainland vessel nearly five hours after their boat sank in Hong Kong water, maritime authorities said here.

The Taiwan fishing vessel "Manqingshun 6" sank at about 18:05 with coordinates which are 50 sea miles to the east of Hong Kong Special Administration Region. All the five fishermen aboard were thrown into the water.

The China Maritime Search and Rescue Center received a report from Taipei-based Chinese Salvage Association two hours later. It immediately ordered the Guangdong maritime search and rescue center to help the Hong Kong maritime authority in the search and rescue efforts.

The Guangdong search and rescue center immediately alerted passing vessels and asked them to watch for the missing fishermen. Maritime authorities in both Guangdong and Hong Kong directed their search and rescue vessels to the site.

A mainland vessel "Anshengji 2" found the five fishermen who were in life raft and saved them at about 22:50 after receiving the alert.

(Xinhua News Agency, April 1, 2008)