Model's family to fight for a hearing
Sisters angry after Coroner's Court says it will not open a new inquiry into death
Family of late model Annie Pang Chor-ying have vowed to continue their fight after the Coroner's Court decided not to reopen inquiries into her death.
'We are very disappointed,' C.C. Pang, the younger sister of the dead woman, said yesterday.
The family was unhappy with the coroner's conclusion given to them by letter two weeks ago.
'The Coroner's Court has considered a second report, submitted by the police on September 12, 2005. There is no contradiction in the findings of the new investigation with the 2001 one,' the letter read. 'Added to this, the issue of public interest is not involved.
'Under these circumstances, the Coroner's Court ordered not to open inquiries into the death of Pang Chor-ying.'
The coroner's letter added that if the family felt they had been treated unfairly, they could apply for a hearing.
The family insisted yesterday that they would not give up.
'We will apply for legal aid for a judicial review very soon. We hope the review can change the decision of the Coroner's Court and open a hearing,' said Legislative Council member Leung Yiu-chung, who had been helping Pang's two sisters in the case. 'However, if the review agreed with the court's decision, it's very probable we cannot go on due to lack of funding.'
Three months ago, after pressure from Pang's family, police reopened investigations into the death of the model, whose skeleton was found in a flat owned by John Fang Meng-sang, brother of former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang.
Police submitted a report on the investigation to the Coroner's Court last month but had not revealed its details to the family.
The sister said: 'As the victim's family, we of course want to know the cause of death. There are simply so many doubts that need to be explained reasonably.
'Even if they find nothing, they should speak out and not cover it up,' the sister said, adding that the police should conduct their investigation in a more transparent way.
Police said last night that the family would be contacted at a 'suitable' time.
The family also feels that the case has been allowed to drag on, due to the inclusion of a prominent figure. Last month Mr Fang said he had helped police with their investigations, adding: 'I have a clear conscience.' He said he was considering taking legal action over allegations made against him.
