Two passengers vessels have collides off Hong Kong, killing at least 36 people local officials have confirmed.

One boat, which was carrying over 120 passengers to a firework display, half-sank in the collision near Lamma Island.

Some 28 people were pronounced dead at the scene.

A further 100 have been taken to hospital, eight of whom were later said to have died.

A large-scale air and sea search for survivors is still continuing.

A Hong Kong government statement said: “Over 100 people were sent to five hospitals during the incident; nine of them have sustained serious injuries or are in critical condition.”

Thousands of people take regularly scheduled ferries from Hong Kong’s main islands to outlying territories such as Lamma Island.

The area is a very popular area for both tourists and residents.

The collision occurred during a busy period for passenger travel in Hong Kong, at the end of a long holiday weekend to mark the mid-autumn festival that this year coincides with China’s National Day on October 1st.