Seven held as police investigate deadly boat crash

The crash was Hong Kong’s deadliest accident in more than 15 years, and its worst maritime accident in more than 40.

Police Commissioner Tsang Wai-hung said six people were detained on suspicion of endangering passengers by operating their craft in an unsafe way. Police later announced a seventh arrest.

Mr Tsang said both crews are suspected of having not “exercised the care required of them by law”, but he did not elaborate.

The accident happened off Hong Kong island’s south-west coast when a ferry collided with the Lamma IV, which is owned by the Hong Kong Electric Co. and was taking more than 100 employees and their families to the famed Victoria Harbour to watch a fireworks display in celebration of China’s National Day and mid-autumn festival.

The government said 101 people were sent to hospital, 66 were discharged, and four had serious injuries or were in critical condition.

The Lamma IV sank and the ferry was damaged but completed its journey and some of its passengers were treated for injuries. Local TV later showed its bow chewed up and chunks missing.

The government said 28 bodies were recovered overnight, and eight more people were declared dead at hospital. Two bodies found aboard the vessel later raised the death toll to 38. At least four of those killed were children.

Salvage crews raised the half-submerged Lamma IV using three crane barges.

At the same time, several dozen relatives of victims travelled by boat to take part in a traditional Chinese mourning ritual, praying alongside Taoist priests and tossing spirit money into the wind.

Survivors told local television stations that the power company boat started sinking rapidly after the collision.

Although there was no immediate word about how the collision occurred on Hong Kong’s tightly regulated waterways, it appeared human error was involved. Both vessels should have been illuminated by running lights when they crashed near Lamma island.

Such large-scale accidents are rare for Hong Kong which has one of Asia’s most advanced infrastructures and economies with first-rate public services. The accident is the deadliest to strike the territory since a 1996 high-rise fire that killed 41, and the deadliest ferry accident since 88 people died during a typhoon in 1971.

Yuen Sui-see, the director of operations of Power Assets Holdings, the company that owns Hong Kong Electric, said the Lamma IV was carrying 121 passengers and three crew members, well below its capacity of more than 200.

“There was a boat that came in close and crashed,” he said. “After the crash, the other boat continued away. It didn’t stop.”

The ferry involved, the Sea Smooth carries up to 200 passengers.

Several dozen relatives gathered at Hong Kong’s morgue to await information on their loved ones.

Victor Li, deputy head of the company that owns Power Assets, said the company would provide emergency payments of 200,000 Hong Kong dollars (£15,000) to the family of each person killed.

Li’s father, Li Ka-shing, is Asia’s richest man. Power Assets and Hong Kong Electric, one of the city’s two electrical utilities, are two of several companies in the elder Li’s sprawling business empire.

Li Ka-shing visited a hospital and told reporters he felt “very sorry”.