Seven young children, newlyweds among ferry victims
Newlyweds and university students also named as full extent of human tragedy begins to emerge
Names and faces behind the tragedy of Monday's ferry disaster began emerging yesterday - including those of at least seven children younger than 12.
The dead also included newlyweds Mani Lau Man-lai, 26, and Pales Lam Ka-man, who were married on September 17.
The Education Bureau confirmed that seven local students were among the victims, including British-Chinese Nicholas Chi-ho Belshaw, who was just seven years old and a primary two pupil at St Stephen's College Preparatory School. His mother, Wendy Ie Hwie, 44, also died. His sister, Emma Belshaw, survived.
School vice-principal Gordon Wong Sing-tung said Nicholas was a boy who loved to play tennis, football and chess, and the school was feeling his loss.
"We are certainly very sad and painful. All the teachers and students feel the same," he said.
Eight-year-old Yan Tsz-ki died along with her mother, Cheng Yin-lan, 40, a nurse at Princess Margaret Hospital. Lee Tai-sang, principal of Kowloon Tong Government Primary School where Tsz-ki was a pupil, told how her heartbroken 11-year-old brother had been at school the last two days. "The brother has been unable to stop crying at home but he insisted on coming to school and has been very brave."
The dead children also included siblings Kwok Leung-ying, four, and Kwok Man-hei, three. At least 23 children under 12 were believed to have been admitted to hospital.
They include nine-year-old Tsui Hoi-ying, who is fighting for her life in the intensive care unit in Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital. She remained in critical condition last night. Her mother also remained in hospital, while her father, Tsui Chi-wai, 42, a Hongkong Electric engineer, was killed.
"Hong Kong mourns ferry victims" video by Jennifer Cheng, Helene Franchineau and Hedy Bok
Other Hongkong Electric engineers among the dead were 24-year-old Polytechnic University masters student Edwin Hui Ka-wai, Thomas Koo Man-cheung, 24, and 23-year-old Pieta Leung Ka-kit.
The university's electrical engineering associate professor Edward Lo Wai-chau said Hui was an outstanding student who had one term to go.
"He was very hard-working and always paid attention in class. The teachers were sad to hear what happened to him," he said, adding that Hui had joined Hongkong Electric as an engineering trainee only in August.
Also confirmed dead were Wong Wai-ngor, 56, and Li Shui-lan, 52, two women who helped out at the Christian Family Service Centre. Daisy Ng Choi-ha, who had just been named outstanding nurse at Pok Oi Hospital, also died.
There must be a long-term monitor. It's paramount that a sense of security be provided to these children.
Christian Chan, an assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong specialising in disaster psychology, said child survivors should not be forced to return to normalcy in the short term. "They should be given room and time to express their grief," he said.
Chan said the month following the tragedy was the most important psychologically. He added refusing to board a ferry or approach the shoreline were the kind of warning signals that would indicate children were at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder.
"There must be a long-term monitor. It's paramount that a sense of security be provided to these children," he said.
The following is a list of 25 out of 38 people who died in the National Day ferry crash, based on government information and newspaper articles. The remaining names have yet to be confirmed.
Families:
Pales Lam Ka-man and wife Mani Lau Man-lai, 26, newlyweds who married two weeks ago. Cheng Yin-lan, 40, and eight-year-old daughter Yan Tsz-ki. Wendy Ie Hwie, 44, and seven-year-old son Nicholas Chi-ho Belshaw. Siblings Kwok Leung-ying, 4, and Kwok Man-hei, 3. Cheung Chung-hin, 11, the son of a Hongkong Electric (HKE) worker. Szeto Ying* and her niece Lau Ching-lam*, about 10.
Individuals:
Tsui Chi-wai (male), 42, HKE engineer. Cheng Sin-kam (m), 64, HKE worker. Chan Wing-kei (m), 56, HKE employee. Chan Hau-luen (female), 55. Lam Yat (m)*+, about 70. Daisy Ng Choi-ha (f) nurse at Pok Oi Hospital. Wong Wai-ngor (f), 56, worker at Christian Family Service Centre. Li Shui-lan (f), 52, worker at Christian Family Service Centre. Wong Pui-lan (f), 63, a relative of HKE employee.
Postgraduates of engineering studies:
Thomas Koo Man-cheung (m), 24, an HKE trainee and graduate from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and his girlfriend. Pieta Leung Ka-kit (m), 23, an HKE trainee from HKU. Edwin Hui Ka-wai (m), 24, from Polytechnic University and his girlfriend Yumi Au, 20, a student.
Notes:
*deaths yet to be confirmed officially, but were reported in other newspapers. The government released only 11 names out of the 38.
+ no English name is provided.
