THE crash which killed four smuggling suspects in Victoria Harbour was caused by their speedboat ramming a Marine Police vessel, an inquest heard yesterday.
All four men aboard the speedboat died of multiple injuries or drowning after their chung fei collided with police vessel PV25 shortly after 3 am on August 9 last year.
The dead men were Leung Chi-wah, 21, Tang Fuk-shing, 37, and brothers Pang Chi-wah, 30, and Pang Ping-kin, 25.
On the morning in question, the chung fei was spotted next to a quay wall where a van was parked and people were seen moving things near Sheung Wan fire station.
Suspecting the vessel to be involved in smuggling activities, PV25 approached the chung fei and there was a chase.
The court was told that PV25 was carrying out an anti-smuggling operation with another police vessel, PV29.
As PV25 chased the chung fei, PV29 followed and fired flares to illuminate the area.