 The gold was never found on-board because it was transferred to another freighter during a rendezvous in mid-sea.The refugees were not allowed to land; instead, the freighter was towed to the south coast of Lamma Island, several hundred yards off-shore.Refugees were confined to the ship for more than four months (until the freighter was deliberately run aground by refugees) while the Hong Kong government attempted to verify the refugee status of the passengers, and decide whether to allow them into the UNHCR-run refugee camps in the colony.