Seventeen holidaymakers returned home last night, but five others remained in hospital in Thailand with broken bones and sprains, including the 38-year-old male tour leader.

The bus was travelling in heavy rain when the driver lost control, skidded, and hit a traffic island. All 30 passengers suffered some degree of injury when the vehicle turned over.

One woman, 77, underwent surgery for spinal injuries. A spokeswoman at Bangkok Hospital said: 'Luckily, the lady underwent surgery last night [Friday] and she is doing okay now. Without the operation, she may have become disabled.'

Eight members of the tour group - relatives of those still in hospital - opted to stay in Bangkok.

Mr Cheung, who stayed behind to be with his wife who broke her arm, said the road was wet and slippery. 'The vehicle swerved suddenly and hit the roadside barrier before overturning - it happened so fast.'

Eleven holidaymakers - six men, four women and a girl - who returned to Hong Kong asked to be taken to Princess Margaret Hospital for examination, the Fire Services Department said.

Tour organiser Hong Thai Travel Services said all the medical costs would be covered by travel insurance and the company.

After the accident, it informed the Hong Kong Travel Industry Council, which in turn contacted the Chinese embassy in Thailand for help. The tour operator also sent staff and nurses to Bangkok and set up a special hotline for relatives to make inquiries.

Its general manager, Susanna Lau Mei-sze, said the group would get a full refund of their tour fees. The tour, which left Hong Kong on Wednesday, had been due to end today.

'This is an unfortunate incident, but we are relieved to learn that all tour members are safe,' she said.

'The injuries of those remaining in hospital are not life-threatening and the doctor has said they are in stable condition. All of them are covered by insurance but a small number of other tour members has not bought insurance.'

Ms Lau said a decision on compensation for the travellers would be made only when an investigation into the accident had been concluded.

In January, 14 Hong Kong tourists died and 29 were injured when their tour bus crashed near the Egyptian resort of Hurghada.