HONG KONG — Hong Kong residents are mourning the deaths of 38 people earlier this week in the city's biggest maritime tragedy in decades.

People across the southern Chinese city dressed in black and fell silent for three minutes at midday Wednesday as they started three days of official mourning.

A utility company's boat carrying more than 120 people collided with a ferry Monday night and partly sank. More than 100 people, mostly on the boat, were injured. Initial suspicions on the cause of the collision have focused on human error.

The accident is also further damaging mainland China's image in Hong Kong, after a Chinese official's appearance raised eyebrows.

Hong Kong is a former British colony that came back under Beijing's control 15 years ago but retains a high degree of autonomy.