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Sentence disappoints victims still grappling with their pain

Joyce Man

Although it has been more than a year since the fatal bus crash in Sai Kung, the relatives and friends of the victims said yesterday the accident continues to have a heavy toll on their lives. 'A lot of times, I have nightmares,' said Madam Tsang, who declined to provide her full name. 'I get scared when I see cars.'

Leung Chun-shing, 19, who was sitting in the front row of the bus and whose 29-year-old sister died, said that since becoming blind in his right eye, he had lost his self-confidence and kept his head down so people could not see his face. 'I have no more future. I don't know what kind of job I would be able to have with this,' he said of his eye.

The optic nerves were severely damaged and doctors said that if the eye shrank, they would have to replace it with an artificial one, he said. The crash had also affected his jaw and he could only chew properly on one side. He had also had operations for fluid build-up and bruising of his brain. Mr Leung, who was due to sit his Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination last year, had to postpone the exams to this year.

He said his 50-year-old mother, who suffered a severe brain injury, was constantly angry.

Like many family members yesterday, Mr Leung felt the sentence on the driver, Hung Ling-kwok, was lenient. 'I feel the sentence is totally unfair. The driver will be able to drive again once he gets out of jail,' he said.

Most victims said Hung should not be allowed to drive again.

But the Japanese religious group Shinji Shumeikai, whose members were injured or died in the crash, said the church respected the sentence.

'The judge has already said it was the most serious case of its kind,' Cherry Cheung, a volunteer public relations representative for the church, said. 'He couldn't give a higher sentence because he [the driver] pleaded guilty. We know that he already understands our feelings.'

The sentencing meant death certificates could be issued and victims could sue for damages. Families of the dead would get insurance payments of HK$100,000 and the injured could receive up to HK$50,000, she said.

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