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 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.
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.
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