Inquest into 2012 Hong Kong ferry disaster a necessary step to bring closure
- Relatives of those who died have faced a long, hard battle for the truth and now, finally, they will get the proper inquiry that they desire and deserve
The Lamma ferry disaster, in which 39 people including eight young children lost their lives, is one of the worst maritime tragedies in Hong Kong history. More than a decade has passed since the horrific collision between two passenger vessels on October 1, 2012.
For many, memories of the tragedy have faded. But the suffering of those who lost loved ones continues.
The disaster raised many questions about maritime safety. It sparked a public inquiry and several criminal trials. But after all this time, there has still not been an inquest into the circumstances in which the victims died.
Now, at last, this will take place.
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10 years since deadly 2012 Lamma Island ferry crash, families still waiting for answers
This week, the Court of Appeal ordered such a step to be taken. An inquest is needed.
It will further the community’s understanding of what happened that night and help ensure tragedies of this kind are not repeated.
A coroner decided not to proceed with an inquest in November 2020, despite a police report that recommended such proceedings take place. That decision was upheld by a Court of First Instance judge in November.
The view taken was that an inquest would not add much to the wealth of information already obtained during the public inquiry that ended in 2013 and the subsequent criminal trials. The judge found that an inquest would not be in the public interest.
But the Court of Appeal disagreed. It relied, in part, on fresh evidence gathered in police investigations that deserves further examination.
The court identified six outstanding questions. They concern the design, construction and approval process relating to the two vessels.
The issue of working conditions for seamen also needs to be probed. These are important matters that should not be left unresolved.
The inquest will be a public hearing. It will subject relevant individuals and companies to scrutiny.
There will be a fresh examination of the conduct of the Marine Department. The proceedings are likely to lead to new recommendations being made so that lessons are learned.
It is good to see that the Transport and Logistics Bureau and HK Electric, which owned the vessel that sank, have promised to cooperate fully with the inquest.
The proceedings will revive painful memories and raise questions about matters that individuals concerned may have thought would now be forgotten. But it is a necessary step to ensure the full picture emerges and to boost confidence in Hong Kong’s maritime safety.
Relatives of those who died have faced a long, hard battle for the truth. They will now get the inquest they desire and deserve.
As the court said, it is to be hoped that when the inquest is over they will all find the closure that is long overdue.
