Families accuse government of 'fudging' Lamma ferry disaster issue
One year after tragedy, those who lost loved ones are still no nearer to knowing the truth about who is to blame and want criminal probe
Families bereaved by the Lamma ferry disaster have united to seek redress for their loved ones, after a year passed with no end in sight to the transport authorities' investigation into the tragedy.
Two ferries collided on their way to the National Day fireworks last year, taking 39 lives.
Nine relatives of the dead yesterday met the media as a group for the first time to detail their demands for a coroner's inquest and a criminal investigation into Marine Department employees.
Irene Cheng, whose son Thomas Koo Man-cheung died at the age of 24, said the families had kept a low profile over the past year, while discussions with the government were ongoing.
They decided to speak out because the Transport and Housing Bureau had failed to update them regularly on the progress of the internal investigation into the department, Cheng said.
"We have been exchanging letters [with the government] since May. One letter followed another," she said.
"The government kept fudging the issue. We know nothing more than the fact that they have set up a six-member panel [to hold an internal investigation]."
