Two passengers on a Turbo Cat returning from Macau were injured yesterday when the catamaran and a Chinese military vessel collided off Lantau Island. The Turbo Cat, with 431 passengers and 14 crew aboard, and the gunboat, which was reportedly undergoing sea trials before being put into commission, collided at 5.15 pm in Chinese waters 11/2 nautical miles southwest of Fan Lau - the southern most tip of Lantau. Two Hong Kong women, aged 54 and 50, were rushed by Marine Police for treatment at Queen Mary Hospital. They suffered back and facial injuries. A 23-year-old woman was ferried back after feeling unwell. Passengers said the Turbo Cat, operated by the Hongkong and Yaumatei Ferry Company, hit the gunboat's stern as it passed in front. The blow caused a six-metre dent to the gunboat's stern and a six-metre scrape to each of the catamaran's hulls. Angry passengers said they were forced to wait more than four hours before the boat limped back to Victoria Harbour. Front row passenger Sally Tam said she, her husband and two children huddled together in horror as the Cat slammed into the gunboat. 'We could see the back of the other boat coming right for us,' she said. 'We thought we were going to die.' A company spokesman said several attempts to transfer the passengers to other ferries failed due to rough seas. Each passenger was handed a pair of free Turbo Cat tickets as they finally made their way to shore at 10.10. Director of Marine Ian Dale said the incident was unfortunate and the department would co-operate if Chinese authorities wanted to impound the ferry for an inquiry. 'As this incident occurred in Chinese waters I assume they will carry out an investigation, which they are obliged to do,' he said.
