《CVRHK》［Local news］Lamma Ferry Collision Ruled Unlawful Killing in Long‑Awaited Inquest

［20 Jan 2026］

Lamma Ferry Collision Ruled Unlawful Killing in Long‑Awaited Inquest

HONG KONG — The Coroner’s Court has ruled that the 2012 Lamma Island ferry collision, which killed 39 people, was an unlawful killing, concluding a decade‑long campaign by families seeking accountability.

After a 44‑day inquest held in 2025, Coroner Monica Chow found that both coxswains of the Lamma IV and Sea Smooth were grossly negligent on the night of the crash, when the Lamma IV sank in under two minutes while carrying Hongkong Electric staff and their families to National Day fireworks.

The court determined that the vessel’s design — including the absence of a watertight door — met the safety standards of its era, though experts noted the feature could have slowed the sinking.While the Coroner’s Court cannot lay new charges, the verdict has renewed public debate over maritime safety and may influence future civil actions by victims’ families.

Reporting 蘇菲 , writing by 蘇菲

Lamma Ferry Collision Photo by: Loki (CVRHK)

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