A criminal gang escaped with more than 10,000 yuan (US$ 1,250) after robbing bus passengers at knife-point.

Police are still hunting the gang, who hijacked the long distance bus as it was about to enter a tunnel on the Guangshen (Guangzhou-Shenzhen) Expressway on Saturday evening.

None of the passengers, who included 32 Hong Kong residents, were hurt during the robbery, according to the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau.

The bus left Shenzhen, heading towards Panyu District of Guangzhou, in south China's Guangdong Province, around 6:50 PM on Saturday.

As it neared the tunnel the gang, who were already on board, made their move.

"Some of them were holding fruit knives to the passengers," said Shenzhen Public Security Bureau's spokesman.

"The passengers compromised and they left the bus very quickly."

It is believed the gang, who disappeared immediately after the hijacking, got away with more than 10,000 yuan (US$1,250) in cash, he added.

All the Hong Kong residents had returned to the city safely by Saturday night. Police hope to be able to apprehend the gang shortly as all the passengers were videoed as they got onto the bus.

(China Daily June 5, 2006)