Lamma Ferry Disaster Family Spokesperson Ends 14-Year Quest for Truth
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Leung Suk-ling, who emerged as a key spokesperson for families affected by the 2012 Lamma Island ferry disaster, announced in late April the withdrawal of her application for judicial review, bringing a 14-year pursuit of truth and accountability to a close. Unable to bear the astronomical legal costs without access to legal aid, the sister of victim Leung Ka-kit expressed lingering anger but maintained a clear conscience about her efforts. "It may not be a perfect ending, but the truth has been presented to the public — these 14 years were not wasted," she stated .
Key Points
- On October 1, 2012, the Hong Kong Electric vessel Lamma 4 collided with Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry's Hoi Tai near Lamma Island, resulting in 39 deaths
- In January, the court ruled the deaths constituted "unlawful killing" but found the shipyard's omission of watertight doors was "conscious design, not negligence"
- In 2021, Leung successfully obtained over 2,000 pages of police investigation documents submitted to the coroner's court regarding her brother
- In July 2023, the Court of Appeal ruled in favor of the families, ordering inquests for victims Leung Ka-kit and Chiu Siu-king
- Without legal aid, families faced potential six-figure legal fees from the first day of any court hearing
Why It Matters
The conclusion of this long-standing legal battle raises questions about access to justice for ordinary Hong Kong citizens seeking accountability from government departments and corporations. The disaster exposed systemic failures in maritime safety oversight, yet the families argue the legal system failed to deliver meaningful accountability or systemic reform to prevent future tragedies .
The conclusion of this long-standing legal battle raises questions about access to justice for ordinary Hong Kong citizens seeking accountability from government departments and corporations. The disaster exposed systemic failures in maritime safety oversight, yet the families argue the legal system failed to deliver meaningful accountability or systemic reform to prevent future tragedies .