(BCTV) - A dramatic, cat-and-mouse game off the coast of B.C. in the dangerous, choppy waters of the north Pacific. A cargo ship carrying what's believed to be illegal Asian immigrants, zig-zagging through the water, trying to evade the Canadian Coast Guard.

It finally dumps its human cargo including men, women and children at the southern tip of the Queen Charlottes and tells them to swim to shore. And then, it makes a run for it. John Daly recaps today's events.

John Daly, reporting: "Bad weather foiled Canadian authorities' attempts to intercept the ghost ship. It made it to Gilbert Bay. One-hundred and fifty migrants forced to swim for shore. Canadian military aircraft watched helplessly."

Officer: "The Rescue Coordination Centre in Esquimalt is taking charge of the operation now as a rescue operation and is diverting transport aircraft like the Buffalo behind us, which carry our search and rescue technicians and supplies and are considering to do some sort of drop to these people...some blankets and medical supplies."

John Daly, reporting: "The boat headed for the high seas after disgorging its human cargo."

George Varnai, Immigration Canada: "We are working in a difficult area, in difficult situation. The 150 people are on the beach now with our people. They are all from the Fujian province...whether they are immigrants as stated under the Immigration Act, we don't know yet, it is far too early to tell..."

John Daly, reporting: "The unmarked vessel, believed to be of Korean origin, and its eight Korean crew, was intercepted 80 km from shore...making its getaway..."

Cpl. Frank Henley, RCMP E-Division: "At this time we have an ERT team on the boat...The crew was fully cooperative. They turned the boat around without incident. They are powering the boat back into our waters. There is nothing at this time to indicate that there is anything else on that boat."

John Daly, reporting: "Same area as last time, same type of boat, people from the same part of China... Last time it was two American fishermen who caught the refugees coming ashore and alerted authorities. This time they had plenty of warning, but it didn't make any difference."

Elinor Caplan, Immigration Minister: "Once there is an interception, then effectively they are in Canadian waters and the law applies. The concern that we have, and we know that there have been other tragic incidences internationally, we are dealing with human life. There are those suggesting that we use force. And I say to them, "Are you proposing that we sink the boat"?"

Gary Lunn, Reform, Saanich-Gulf Islands; "And these two boat loads, full of people, and more coming...it happens every day at our airport. We have Americans coming into our country claiming refugee status...this is ridiculous...so we need to change our domestic laws now to stop this and send these people home."

John Daly, reporting: "But they aren't going home. Like the last batch, they will be housed at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt and given lawyers, and refugee hearings."

Anchor reads: "Premier Glen Clark is blaming Ottawa for this new spate of illegal immigrants and says he doesn't think these latest migrants should be treated as refugees. In Quebec City for the premier's conference, Clark says federal cutbacks have left the B.C. coast without an effective system of patrol and left it open to people who would abuse the immigration system."