Eight dead, dozen missing as Hong Kong ferry sinks

At least eight people died and more than a dozen are missing after a ferry packed with more than 120 passengers collided with a tugboat and sank south of Hong Kong last night.

More than 100 people had been lifted so far from waters off Lamma, an island south of Hong Kong popular with tourists and expatriates, but it was not immediately clear how many were dead, a government spokeswoman said.

The ferry, belonging to The Hongkong Electric Company, was carrying company staff and family members on an evening cruise to watch fireworks at Victoria Harbour. It sank quickly.