Reuters-HK calls off search for tim

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Subject: Reuters-HK calls off search for timber ship survivors 

HK calls off search for timber ship survivors
04:39 a.m. May 03, 1999 Eastern
HONG KONG, May 3 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's Marine Department said on Monday it
had called off the search for possible survivors from a
Panamanian-registered timber ship which sank in the South China sea last
week.

``The chance of survival after three days is very very low, we have called
off the search,'' a Marine Department spokesman said.

Thirteen crew were still missing on Monday after the sinking of the
5,142-gross-ton Feliz Trader, the Hong Kong government said.

The spokesman said ships in the region had been alerted to look out for
survivors in lifeboats.

He said there was no information on why the ship sank, but said the seas had
been rough.

Of the 13 missing crew, 12 are from Myanmar and one is from the Philippines.

Passing boats had picked up seven survivors and one body, a government
spokeswoman said earlier