Lamma coxswain says he wasn't told to give safety demonstration
Rescue boat coxswain tells hearing he was not told to run through emergency procedures with passengers or ensure children wore life jackets
The coxswain of a rescue boat in the Lamma ferry disaster was not advised to make sure all passengers on board were aware of the location of all life-saving devices, and the proper way to don a life jacket, the commission of inquiry into the collision was told yesterday.
Cheng Muk-hee, 54, also told the commission that he was instructed on September 30 to pilot the Lamma II on October 1 but was not advised to ensure all children on board wore a life jacket at all times. Cheng's vessel went to the aid of victims from the collision between the ferry Sea Smooth and Lamma IV, which sank killing 39 people.
The commission also heard that Cheng did not have a passenger list, which the Marine Department had suggested all coxswains should keep.
But he said: "I asked the chief engineer to check whether there were 66 passengers."
All the safety measures were on a notice issued by the Marine Department in late August, before the National Day fireworks display to which the Hongkong Electric-owned Lamma II and Lamma IV were taking passengers. Cheng's vessel had left the Hongkong Electric power plant pier on Lamma Island at 8.16pm, one minute after the Lamma IV.
The inquiry resumed yesterday after a holiday break from December 21 and will continue on weekdays until February 8.