Hunt for missing Air NZ pilot in final days

Hong Kong police will continue to look for missing Air New Zealand pilot until at least tomorrow night despite reports that the search has been scaled back after six days of searching.

Search teams today continue to scour Pat Sin Leng Country Park and surrounding areas for First Officer Stephen John Morrissey, last seen on Wednesday while tramping with Captain Mark Apperley on the Wilson trail in Hong Kong's New Territories.

More than 120 people searched yesterday and police were still classing it as a search and rescue situation, Air New Zealand deputy chief executive Norm Thompson said today.

"While some media have suggested the search is being scaled back, this is not the case. A large number of trained search and rescue volunteers helped during the weekend and with the start of the working week, many of those volunteers have had to return to their jobs," Mr Thompson said.

Hong Kong police had confirmed that they would continue the search at the same level today and tomorrow if needed.

There had been no new leads in the search for Mr Morrissey.

Any speculation on what might have happened to Mr Morrissey was baseless and did not help the difficult situation that his family was already facing, Mr Thompson said.

- NZPA