Two slightly injured people remained in hospital for observation after a Hong Kong-bound jetfoil hit a buoy on a marine lane off the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal about 12:27 today.

According to statements by the Office of the Government Spokesperson, Fire Services Bureau and Maritime Administration, there were 175 passengers and eight crew members on the vessel, which departed the ferry terminal at 12:15 for Hong Kong.

At 12:27, the vessel hit a buoy in a marine lane off the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal. After the accident, the Macao Vessel Traffic Control Centre kept communicating with the crew to obtain information about the injuries and the condition of the vessel.

To minimise risks, the authorities decided to send a tugboat to tow the vessel back to the terminal after they were assured that it faced no danger of sinking and that no passengers were injured seriously.

The vessel reached the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal at 13:30 and the 26 injured people were taken to hospital by waiting ambulances, most of them with scratches and bruises: 24 of them were discharged after treatment.

As of 18:00, a 60-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man, both Mainland visitors, remained in hospital for observation. Both were in normal condition.