In wake of the Morecambe Bay shell-fishing accident that claimed the 20 lives of Chinese migrant workers, the Ministry of Public Security said Monday it is consulting with Britain about dispatching police liaison officers to Britain and accepting officers stationed in Beijing.  

Ministry spokesman Sun Yongbo made the announcement Monday when discussing progress in the investigation into the incident that occurred earlier this month.

After the accident, the ministry and Chinese government have paid great attention to the issue, with the British authorities keeping the Chinese side steadily informed of developments in the case.

Ministry officials will soon send five police officers to the United Kingdom to help investigate the tragedy, Sun said, without disclosing the exact date of their departure.

The bodies of the Chinese migrants -- 17 men and three women -- were found in Morecambe Bay in northwestern Britain shortly after the February 5 accident. Another 16 cockle gatherers, including 14 Chinese and two Europeans, survived the incident.

More than two weeks after the investigation by British police began, all the identities of the dead have not yet been confirmed, UK police said.

Chinese associations and societies in UK have established a foundation to collect donations for the victims family members.

The foundation has collected more than 10,000 pounds (US$18,700), according to British media reports.

More than 500 people attended a memorial ritual for the dead at a church in Lancashire where the tragedy happened, according to a BBC report.

Lancashire Police Deputy Chief Constable Steve Finnigan said the inquiry is "truly massive,'' and has aroused many concerns about illegal immigration.

British police have released five people who were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter involving the 20 cockle pickers. Two women were set free on bail, while three men were released but then placed into the custody of British immigration services, Riding said Monday. The five were originally on the list of 16 survivors.

Two British businessmen who were suspected of responsibility in the deaths were released on bail and are due to reappear before authorities on April 12.

Illegal immigration between China and England started to pick up steam about 15 years ago, officials have said. Many migrants stowaway on ships, and are on the hook to "snakehead" human smugglers who are often associated with organized crime gangs both in Europe and at home in China, officials with the British National Crime Intelligence Service said.

Sun said the ministry conducting consultations with the British police or sending liaison officers abroad is not altogether uncommon. China and the United States, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kirghizstan and Kazakhstan all have liaison officers placed in one another's nations, he said.

The major tasks of the liaison officers are to conduct inquiries, exchange police affairs information and coordinate with the police of the countries win dealing with cross-national crimes, Sun explained.

The spokesman said the Chinese Government advocates normal personnel exchanges in accord with the international conventions and regulations, but opposes all forms of illegal immigration and human smuggling, Sun said.

The Chinese police have effectively curbed the expansion of illegal immigration in recent years by cracking down on stowaway cases and arresting snakeheads.

In 2003, the Chinese police arrested and punished 3,999 suspects involved with stowaways and 774 snakesheads who organized the human smuggling, Sun disclosed.

(China Daily February 24, 2004)