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Gigi Choy

Chan Ho-him

The Department of Justice will no longer initiate prosecutions over the fatal 2012 National Day ferry crash off Hong Kong’s Lamma Island, the city’s acting transport minister has confirmed.
But a lawmaker who has been assisting the families of the deceased in the accident has proposed new avenues for police to consider, urging authorities to continue their investigation.
Thirty-nine people died when the passenger ferry Sea Smooth rammed into a HK Electric Company vessel, the Lamma IV, on October 1, 2012.
It was the city’s worst maritime accident since 1971, when a ferry sank during a typhoon, killing 88 people.

In a written reply to a question by James To Kun-sun, the Democratic Party lawmaker helping the families, acting Secretary for Transport and Housing Dr Raymond So Wai-man said the Department of Justice (DoJ) had informed police in mid-October that it would initiate no further prosecutions against individuals or companies in the case.
“The DoJ will commence a prosecution if there is a reasonable prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to do so. In this case, the DoJ has already brought prosecutions against the relevant persons involved,” So wrote.
In 2013, a commission of inquiry into the ferry collision found the Marine Department’s inspectors missed several chances to spot that the doomed Lamma IV did not have the watertight bulkhead door stipulated in its design, which led to the vessel sinking more quickly.
Other safety shortcomings also came to light, including the lack of child life jackets and a failure to bolt down the vessel’s seats, leading to some passengers being trapped when seats broke off on the upper deck.
Four people – the two vessels’ captains, and a ship inspector and an assistant director of the Marine Department – were ultimately sentenced to jail terms ranging from 4½ months to eight years on various charges, including manslaughter, endangering the safety of others at sea, misconduct in public office and perjury while testifying before the commission of inquiry.

To, the lawmaker, said he had proposed new angles of investigation for police to consider, urging authorities to continue looking into the accident.
“We have suggested to [police] directions to continue to follow up on the case. But we don’t hope to affect the procedures, so we prefer not to go into too much detail [publicly],” he said. “We have not yet given up.”
To added that police had not decided yet whether to pursue his suggestions.
“We also hope police can consider putting up open rewards to encourage witnesses to come forward,” he continued. “We understand that there might not be too much hope after all these years, but we also cannot rule out that somebody might come forward.”
To said private prosecution remained a last resort, adding that he and the families might seek legal advice on the evidence available before deciding on taking further action.
Families of victims in Lamma ferry disaster ‘still waiting for justice’
Alice Leung Shuk-ling, whose 23-year-old brother died in the accident, said she was furious over the “disappointing” decision, adding that the bereaved families “felt helpless”, but would not give up.
Leung’s brother, Peter, was an HK Electric trainee engineer who was set to complete his master’s degree that year.
“Does the [Transport and Housing Bureau] have the sincerity to explain not only to the 39 families, but also to the public what happened? Back then they cited privacy laws and possible interference in the investigation as reasons to not disclose the full report. We understood, that’s why we kept silent for eight years,” she said, referring to an internal report into Marine Department staff conduct.
“It’s unreasonable that they still haven’t given us a definite answer of what truly happened. Doesn’t public interest trump privacy?”


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Lamma ferry crash

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Rescuers work to carry victims to hospitals after the Sea Smooth ferry rammed into the Lamma IV off the coast of Lamma Island in 2012. Photo: Xinhua

Lawmaker James To Kun-sun of the Democratic Party, who has been assisting the families of the deceased, urged police to continue probing the accident afterÂ Thirty-nine people died and 101 were injured when the passenger ferry Sea Smooth and a Hong Kong Electric Company vessel, the Lamma IV, collided on October 1, 2012.  03NOV20 SCMP/ Dickson Lee

Rescuers approach a partially-submerged boat after two vessels collided in Hong Kong October 1, 2012. A major rescue is underway in the waters near Yung Shue Wan on Hong Kong's Lamma island following a collision involving two vessels in the evening, government radio reported on Monday. Police say there were about 100 people onboard both vessels, with many of them in the water.  REUTERS/Tyrone Siu  (CHINA - Tags: DISASTER TRANSPORT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

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The partially submerged HK Electric Lamma IV ferry after the collision. Photo: Reuters

Memorial vigil for the 5th anniversary of the Lamma ferry disaster in 2012 at Central Ferry Pier No. 4. 01OCT17 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Sea Smooth captain Lai Sai-ming appears at the High Court. 03NOV15

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Rescue officials help survivors after a ferry capsized amid stormy weather off the coast of Koh Samui island, Surat Thani province, Thailand. At least nine people were rescued. Photo: EPA-EFE

epa08580087 A handout photo made available on 02 August 2020 by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office in Koh Samui shows survivors of a ferry capsize after being rescued amid stormy weather off the coast of Koh Samui island, Surat Thani province, Thailand, late 01 August 2020 (issued 02 August 2020). According to media reports, nine people were rescued while seven others were still missing. EPA-EFE/DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER PREVENTION AND MITIGATION HANDOUT BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

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The city’s acting housing and transport chief says the Department of Justice has prosecuted all the people it intends to in the maritime tragedy
But a lawmaker helping the families of victims says there are still stones left unturned in the investigation



The city’s acting housing and transport chief says the Department of Justice has prosecuted all the people it intends to, but a lawmaker insists there is still more to investigate.


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Accidents and personal safety in Hong Kong