A coroner’s inquest into one of Hong Kong’s worst maritime disasters started on Tuesday, with some survivors complaining that they were never told the location of life-saving apparatus and the means of escape before their ferry sank in the accident 13 years ago.
The Coroner’s Court on Tuesday began hearing evidence regarding the circumstances of the 39 deaths caused by a collision between two ferries in waters off Lamma Island on October 1, 2012.
The long-overdue hearing was held after two relatives of victims convinced the Court of Appeal that it was in the public interest to investigate the incident once again, even though the causes of the tragedy had been largely identified in previous inquiries.
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The 39 deceased were among 124 passengers on board the Lamma IV vessel heading to view National Day fireworks as part of a recreational event by HK Electric organised for its employees and their relatives.
The boat was hit on the port side by the Sea Smooth ferry, operated by Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry, while heading to Victoria Harbour at around 8.20pm.
The damaged Sea Smooth was able to continue to Lamma Island’s Yung Shue Wan Pier, but the Lamma IV sank in less than two minutes partly due to design flaws.
It marked the city’s worst maritime disaster since 1971, when 88 were killed after a ferry sank during a typhoon.
On the first day of what is expected to be a 60-day inquiry, the court heard 17 witness statements recorded either during police investigations or in preparation for a commission of inquiry in 2012.
The statements were made by three then HK Electric employees, the Lamma IV’s skipper and 13 passengers.
Chow Chi-wai, who was behind Lamma IV’s helm, said in a police interview that he had sounded an alarm immediately after noticing Sea Smooth sailing towards the HK Electric vessel. He added the crash came “very quickly” in “less than one minute”.
Most of the surviving passengers recalled the Lamma IV suddenly speeding up moments before impact, with some adding they did not believe the crew members had taken any action to avoid the crash.
HK Electric clerk Wendy Szeto Lan, who invited 20 relatives and friends to the event, said there was no sign inside the Lamma IV indicating the location of lifebuoys or written instructions in case of an emergency.
Another passenger, Lau Kam-bor, also said the ship’s crew never briefed those on board about the location of lifebuoys and life jackets or escape routes before the vessel set sail.
Coroner Monica Chow Wai-choo said the inquest would focus on six issues the appellate court found to remain unresolved, including whether the Lamma IV’s coaming was lower than required and whether the installation of metal plating on the Sea Smooth’s port hull had contributed to the tragedy.
The coroner’s officer, senior prosecutor Andrew Li Hay-chit, revealed that more than one witness remained out of reach and his team was considering the possibility of applying for arrest warrants to compel their appearances in later proceedings.
The court is expected to hear more witness statements by the survivors when proceedings resume on Wednesday.
Philip Chiu Ping-chuen, who lost his elder sister Chiu Siu-king in the disaster, is expected to testify on Thursday as the first witness to give oral evidence in the inquest.
More from South China Morning Post:
- Hong Kong court orders coroner’s inquest into 2012 Lamma ferry crash that killed 39 people, overturning earlier ruling
- Return of National Day fireworks stirs painful memories of 2012 Lamma ferry disaster for Hong Kong families of victims, as long-awaited inquest looms
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