Last updated at 6.45pm: A Hong Kong catamaran and a mainland cargo vessel collided in waters near Lantau Island on Thursday morning ? injuring some 102 people.
Local radio reported that the accident occurred about 8am close to Kap Shui Mun at Tsing Yi. A catamaran, departing the Hong Kong-China Ferry terminal and heading to Nan Sha, hit a mainland cargo vessel from Tsing Yi.
The catamaran was carrying 156 passengers and nine seamen. Some 102 passengers were injured, and four suffered serious bone fractures and head injuries. They were rushed to different hospitals.
Of the 102 injured, 55 are men and 42 are women aged 12 and 73 years. By Thursday afternoon, 89 people had left hospital following treatement.
A government spokesman said marine police launches and fire services boats were at the scene trying to rescue people on board the vessels.
The Home Affairs Department said it has set up five inter-departmental help desks at various hospitals to provide assistance and answer inquiries.
The locations of help desks and hotline numbers are Caritas Medical Centre, tel: 2307 1254, Kwong Wah Hospital, tel: 2384 5983, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, tel: 2958 8982, Princess Margaret Hospital. tel: 2990 3214/ 2990 3133 and Yan Chai Hospital, tel: 2439 0297.