Barge that struck and sparked traffic chaos on key bridge linking to Hong Kong airport 'breached height limits'
Cargo vessel captain quizzed over licence as top officials move to explain why a single incident was able to cripple city's showpiece international flight hub
The vessel that smashed into a vital bridge on Friday evening linking Hong Kong to its international airport - crippling one of the world's leading aviation hubs for several hours - was in breach of height limits, according to the city's chief executive Leung Chun-ying.
Marine officials are questioning the captain of a barge that ploughed into the Kap Shui Mun Bridge, which along with the connecting Tsing Ma Bridge make up the crucial Lantau Link, over "licence breaches" as concerns mount over how a single incident could plunge the city into chaos so quickly.
The collision triggered an alarm system that closed off both the Kap Shui Mun and Tsing Ma bridge sections of the Lantau Link, effectively cutting Lantau and the airport off from the rest of the city.
Extra ferries were laid on and the bridges were reopened after about two hours but thousands of people were inconvenienced and scores of flights delayed.
Speaking on Saturday morning, Leung said the height of the vessel was found to have exceeded the licence limits.
