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Cliff Buddle

Hong Kong, with its famous harbour, free port and more than 250 islands, is inseparable from the sea. The city has a rich maritime history and boat trips are a feature of daily life.
It could be a short jaunt on the Star Ferry, a journey to the outlying islands or a pleasure cruise on a junk. Most trips are smooth, efficient and safe.
This is why the Lamma ferry disaster, on October 1, 2012, came as such a shock. Two passenger vessels collided on the night of the national day fireworks. It took less than two minutes for one of them, the Lamma IV, to sink. The tragedy cost 39 people, including eight young children, their lives.
The disaster raised a simple but fundamental question: How could this happen? Almost 11 years later, the full truth is still not known.
That should now change. The Court of Appeal has ordered a coroner’s inquest into the circumstances. This should have taken place long ago.
Inquest into Hong Kong’s Lamma IV disaster ‘must reveal full story of ferry crash’
Instead, there was a public inquiry, several criminal trials, an internal government investigation and a police probe. The findings led a coroner, in 2020, to decide an inquest was unnecessary despite a police recommendation one be held. The grieving relatives of those who died were, understandably, not satisfied, believing the full picture has not emerged.
The court judgment reveals many questions remain unanswered. It also reminds us of the astonishing catalogue of blunders made by people involved with the vessels.
Multiple errors were made during the design, construction and surveying of the Lamma IV, the Commission of Inquiry found. It is a scandal the ferry was allowed to sail. The inquiry delivered its report in 2013, making 13 recommendations.
The coxswain of the Lamma IV was later jailed for nine months for endangering safety at sea. His counterpart on the Sea Smooth was given eight years’ jail for mass manslaughter. An assistant director with the Marine Department was also jailed, for misconduct in public office.
An internal government investigation then found a prima facie case of misconduct against 17 Marine Department officers. Disciplinary proceedings followed. But only a summary of that report has been made public, much to the frustration of the victims’ relatives. Also under wraps are the police death reports, which unearthed fresh evidence compelling enough to persuade the court an inquest is needed.
The public inquiry revealed the Lamma IV’s lack of a watertight bulkhead contributed to its rapid sinking. Damage stability checks on the vessel were repeatedly botched and seats not properly secured. Life jackets for children, required by regulations, were missing.
Can the shadow cast by the 2012 Lamma IV sinking at last be lifted?
But new evidence raises further questions and, in some areas, conflicts with evidence at the inquiry. These issues require further investigation at the inquest.
They include the unresolved question of whether the shipyard that constructed the vessels knew the Lamma IV was supposed to have a watertight bulkhead.
Fresh concerns have arisen that the “coaming” on part of that ferry, designed to stop water seeping in, was at a lower level than required, contributing to its sinking.
Then there is the “credible evidence” suggesting the Sea Smooth might have had metal plating fitted, possibly explaining why it was able to penetrate the Lamma IV’s aluminium hull.
The working conditions of seafarers also require examination. They were not considered by the inquiry and police met with resistance when investigating the issue.
Holding an inquest so long after the disaster will not be easy. Some witnesses may have died and memories faded. But the proceedings are needed to ensure the victims’ families have a fair chance to examine the witnesses, to provide public scrutiny of the Marine Department officers and others involved, and to ensure we understand how this terrible tragedy occurred. This is the only way to be sure it will not happen again.
The relatives of those who died have waited long enough. They may never recover from the tragedy. But the inquest offers justice and might just bring them closure.


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Hong Kong

Inquest into the Lamma ferry disaster offers overdue justice

Alice Leung Suk-ling and Philip Chiu Ping-chuen outside the High Court upon learning of the recent ruling in favour of an inquest into the fatal ferry crash off Lamma Island in 2012. Photo: SCMP/Brian Wong

Can the shadow of the Lamma IV disaster at last be lifted? The Post looks at the implications of a High Court ruling in favour of an inquest 11 years after the ferry sinking claimed 39 lives

The wreck of the Lamma IV ferry is lifted from the seabed. Photo: SCMP

A shocked survivor of the sinking is helped by emergency services workers. Photo: AP

Alice Leung and Philip Chiu are overcome with emotion after a High Court ruling that an inquest into the 2012 Lamma IV marine disaster should go ahead. Photo: Brian Wong

The Lamma IV, which sank after a collision with another ferry, the Sea Smooth. Photo: Sam Tsang

Inquest into 2012 Hong Kong ferry disaster a necessary step to bring closure

Family members perform rituals off Lamma Island following the horrific ferry disaster in October 2012. Relatives of the dead now will get the inquest they wanted. Photo: David Wong

Passenger disembark from the Lamma Island ferry. More than a decade has passed since the collision of a ferry and another vessel killed 39 people in one of the worst maritime tragedies in Hong Kong’s history. Photo: Elson Li

Coroner’s inquest into Hong Kong’s Lamma IV disaster must expose systemic issues, reveal full story of ferry crash, victims’ families say

The HK Electric ferry that sank in the waters off Lamma Island after the collision in 2012. Photo: SCMP 

Alice Leung and Philip Chiu, relatives of two of the victims, outside the High Court after learning about Wednesday’s ruling. Photo: Brian Wong

Philip Chiu (left) attends a hearing of the commission of inquiry in 2012. Photo: Felix Wong

Hong Kong court orders coroner’s inquest into 2012 Lamma ferry crash that killed 39 people, overturning earlier ruling

Thirty-nine people, including eight children, died in the city’s worst maritime disaster since 1971. Photo: Sam Tsang

Alice Leung and Philip Chiu, relatives of two of the victims, stand outside the High Court after learning about Wednesday’s ruling. Photo: Brian Wong

A young survivor is rescued after the collision involving the two ferries in Hong Kong in 2012. Photo: AP

An internal investigation in 2014 by the former Transport and Housing Bureau held 17 marine officials liable for the tragedy. Photo: Sam Tsang

Family members perform rituals at the site of the collision. Photo: David Wong

Opinion

Relatives of those who died have waited long enough to hear the full truth about what happened and may finally be able to find closure


Relatives of those who died have waited long enough to hear the full truth about what happened and may finally be able to find closure.


Lamma ferry crash

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

My Take

Inquest into the Lamma ferry disaster offers overdue justice

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Relatives of those who died have waited long enough to hear the full truth about what happened and may finally be able to find closure

Relatives of those who died have waited long enough to hear the full truth about what happened and may finally be able to find closure