BEIJING - The Chinese central government on Tuesday sent a letter expressing condolence and sympathy to the families of victims of a fatal ship collision off Hong Kong on Monday.

The central government is extremely concerned about the accident and will spare no efforts in providing help if needed, read the letter sent by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, to the office of Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.

The central government has asked neighboring Guangdong province to send four salvage vessels to help Hong Kong police with rescue work.

A ferry and a pleasure craft collided off Lamma Island to the southwest of Hong Kong Island at about 8:23 pm on Monday evening, leaving 36 people dead as of 7:45 am on Tuesday, according to Hong Kong's Information Services Department.

More than 100 people on board were transferred to five hospitals, with nine severely injured, it said.