HONG KONG: A Kowloon and Hong Kong ferry collided with a commercial boat hired by the Hong Kong Electric Company on Monday night. 36 persons are reported to have died. The Hong Kong Electric Company had hired the boat to ferry employees and their families to Lama Island, and was taking them back to the Victoria Harbor for the fireworks when they were hit on the side by the other vessel. This is the largest boating disaster in Hong Kong in recent times. The rescue crew is still working to find any persons remaining in the water. The crash happened near the shore of Lama Island. Some survivors were able to swim to the shore. It is uncertain what exactly happened on Monday evening. The city is reeling from the accident, which has turned a very happy holiday, the Mid-Autumn Festival, into a very tragic time.