Seven ferry crew arrested
Three days of mourning for 38 killed in collision; search continues for missing passengers; C.Y. Leung promises thorough investigation
Police yesterday arrested seven crew members - including the skippers - of the two vessels that collided off Lamma on Monday night, as Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying declared three days of mourning and promised a thorough investigation.
From tomorrow Hong Kong's flag will fly at half mast on government buildings in memory of the 38 killed in a disaster that also injured 100 more and left an unknown number still missing by 1am this morning.
Leung made his announcement as an air and sea search for the missing extended off southern Hong Kong Island, after the National Day collision between the Sea Smooth and the Lamma IV, the city's worst maritime disaster since 1971.
Yesterday, President Hu Jintao , Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice-President Xi Jinping expressed their condolences and, in an unprecedented move, instructed the Hong Kong government to spare no efforts to rescue the missing and comfort the victims' families.
Leung, who led a minute's silence for the dead at a media briefing, declared that no effort would be spared to find anyone still missing.
"Irrespective of whether it is the biggest sea tragedy in Hong Kong history, there were more than 100 people on the boat and every single life is precious," he said. "The government will use all resources we have to save lives."