‘Law is a game for wealthy people’: Lamma ferry disaster families drop challenge against coroner’s verdict

Family members of victims from Hong Kong's devastating 2012 Lamma ferry disaster have withdrawn their legal challenge against a coroner's verdict, marking the end of all judicial proceedings related to the incident. The disaster, which claimed the lives of 31 adults and eight children, was the worst maritime accident in Hong Kong since 1971.

Four bereaved family members, Alice Leung, Leung Ka-yan, Philip Chiu, and Ryan Tsui, had sought a judicial review of the coroner's findings delivered in January. The coroner, Monica Chow, had rejected a key demand from the families, ruling that the absence of a watertight bulkhead door on the Lamma IV ferry did not cause the sinking. Chow stated that the ferry would have sunk regardless of the door's presence and that its absence did not violate regulations at the time.

The families had argued that shipbuilders failed to adhere to design plans for the watertight door. They also contended that the coroner did not adequately consider inconsistencies in testimonies from shipbuilders and contradictions in the vessel's design drawings. However, they decided to abandon their challenge after being denied legal aid, according to local media reports.

Alice Leung, who lost her brother in the tragedy, expressed frustration to media outlet The Witness, lamenting that "law is a game for wealthy people." The families feared the lawsuit would incur substantial fees. The coroner's inquest, which involved 84 witnesses over 44 hearings, was itself a hard-won outcome, as the coroner's court had initially decided in 2020 not to investigate the incident.

The Lamma IV ferry, carrying over 120 passengers, was on a trip organized by the Hong Kong Electric Company to watch National Day fireworks. It collided with the Sea Smooth ferry, operated by Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry Company, which had over 100 people on board.

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law is a game for wealthy people