Hundreds of disgruntled commuters were thrown into confusion after being stranded at the Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan on Thursday as Typhoon Nesat swept past the city.

The travelers, mostly on package tours from the mainland, accused their travel agents of abandoning them and leaving them in the lurch after the Hong Kong Observatory raised the No 8 signal at 4:40 am.

An elderly woman from Hubei told China Daily she was in total disarray after arriving at the terminal at 6 am only to discover that her trip to Macao was only a dream as all ferry services had been suspended. Having to get up at 4 am for the trip, she said she was very upset and dissatisfied with the tour guide's arrangements.

"Our group has about 100 members, mostly elderly people. They kept us waiting at the terminal for some eight hours without any lunch, and nobody ever told me when we could leave and what the arrangements would be," she complained.

Adding insult to injury, she said there was no place for them to sit in the departure hall and some had to rest on the floor.

Members of other tour groups eventually decided to travel to Macao from Shenzhen and Zhuhai by bus.

Ms Ling, a tourist from Guangzhou, complained that she had to wait at the terminal for more than six hours and would have to pay about 100 yuan extra if she was to alter her route to Macao on road.

"The guide argued that as their trip to Macao had to be changed by rerouting us via Shenzhen and Zhuhai, we need to pay an extra 100 yuan. We are dissatisfied with these arrangements," she added.

Another tourist from Shanghai claimed that their guide disappeared and they were still trying to locate her. No alternate arrangements were made and they were kept waiting at the terminal without being told what to expect.

The Observatory lowered the No 8 signal at about 4 pm, replacing it with the strong wind signal No 3. But, they still could not proceed to Macao immediately as the No 8 signal remained hoisted there.

Jetfoil services between Hong Kong and Macao resumed at 6:30 pm.

fanfeifei@chinadailyhk.com

China Daily

(HK Edition 09/30/2011 page1)