Police were called to the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui last night after a group of travellers refused to pass through immigration until they received compensation, because their boat from Macau was late.
Initially about 300 disgruntled passengers took part in the protest, with a core of about 70 travellers refusing to leave the restricted area of the terminal for more than three hours. Their journey with First Ferry had been delayed for less than an hour.
The ferry left Macau at 5.30pm but during the voyage it had to slow down after its propellers became tangled with rubbish. After the propellers were cleared, fog forced the vessel to travel slowly.
The passengers, mainly from Hong Kong and the mainland, demanded that the company compensate them for the delay when the ferry arrived at Tsim Sha Tsui at 7.40pm - a delay of about 55 minutes.
The passengers alighted from the ferry but decided to remain inside the restricted area and refused to go through immigration to make their demands.
A manager for First Ferry apologised for the delay and offered everyone a single trip coupon to Macau as compensation.