https://www.scmp.com/rss/297293/feed Nine Hong Kong tourists were among 19 victims killed in Luxor, Egypt, when a hot-air balloon burst into flames as it was descending during a sightseeing tour on February 26, 2013. Only the Egyptian pilot and a Briton survived the early morning accident. The other victims, out of 20 passengers, were from France, Japan, Britain, Hungary and Egypt. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Relatives of six Hongkongers who perished in a hot-air balloon disaster in Egypt three years ago are demanding more than HK$10.6 million from a travel agency that organised the fatal flight, the Post has learned. Details emerged last Tuesday as six estate administrators argued in a statement of claim that Kuoni Travel (China) Limited “failed to quality assure the hot air balloon riding services provided is of reasonable skill and care”. The High Court document detailed a personal injury claim... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2014489/relatives-deceased-victims-egypt-hot-air-balloon-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2014489/relatives-deceased-victims-egypt-hot-air-balloon-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Sep 2016 07:00:30 +0000 Hot-air balloon flights have long been an adventurous way to get a bird’s-eye view of far-flung landscapes. But when things go wrong it can be catastrophic, as we are reminded by an inquest into the deaths of nine Hongkongers in Egypt in February 2013. The tragedy came a year after 11 people died when a hot-air balloon flight in New Zealand hit a power line and crashed in flames. Local coroner June Cheung Tin-ngan ruled the deaths of the Hongkongers, along with 10 others, were accidental when... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1973894/travel-agents-have-duty-care-when-sending-clients-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1973894/travel-agents-have-duty-care-when-sending-clients-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Jun 2016 16:32:31 +0000 It took Siu Chi-keung three years to find out whether it was just an accident that killed his brother and sister-in-law in a hot air balloon ride that went wrong in Egypt in February 2013. The question tormented the telecommunications engineer through many sleepless nights, prompting him to go online to seek new leads only for new questions to emerge. Hong Kong Travel Industry Council, Kuoni criticised over reaction to Egypt hot air balloon fire “It felt like there was always something pulling... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1970546/hong-kong-mans-torment-and-frustrations-handling-death?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1970546/hong-kong-mans-torment-and-frustrations-handling-death?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jun 2016 00:02:06 +0000 A coroner has criticised the Travel Industry Council and Kuoni Travel after ruling the deaths of nine Hongkongers in a hot-air balloon ride over Egypt was accidental. Coroner June Cheung Tin-ngan described the accident as “one of the most tragic incidents that happened while Hong Kong citizens were travelling abroad”. She ruled after a 14-day hearing that the nine Kuoni customers died during an optional, self-paid ride over Luxor when the hot air balloon they were in caught fire after it began... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1968215/hong-kong-travel-industry-council-kuoni-criticised-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1968215/hong-kong-travel-industry-council-kuoni-criticised-over?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jun 2016 09:36:46 +0000 The inquest into the hot air balloon tragedy that killed nine Hongkongers in Egypt in 2013 may stall, following a surprise revelation on Tuesday that investigations in the country were continuing. The news came after bereaved family members met with Egyptian consul general Alaaeldin Kashef, who suggested local authorities would issue a final report. READ MORE: I was not told about risks of hot air balloons, Hong Kong tour guide tells inquest on tragedy in Egypt The coroner in the Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1919743/hong-kong-inquest-hot-air-balloon-tragedy-may-stall?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1919743/hong-kong-inquest-hot-air-balloon-tragedy-may-stall?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Mar 2016 11:45:45 +0000 An investigation report on the hot-air balloon crash in Egypt three years ago that killed nine Hongkongers that has been cited at an inquest underway in the city is not the final version, shocked relatives have been told. Investigators in Egypt were still probing the tragedy, family members were informed on Tuesday during a meeting in the city with the Egyptian consulate. Nineteen people died when the balloon burst into flames on a sightseeing tour in Luxor on February 26, 2013. Only the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1919529/report-egypt-balloon-tragedy-killed-nine-hongkongers-not?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1919529/report-egypt-balloon-tragedy-killed-nine-hongkongers-not?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Mar 2016 12:48:11 +0000 Egypt’s consul-general in Hong Kong has requested a meeting with family members of the nine Hongkongers who died in a hot air balloon crash three years ago, as the inquest into the death continues in court. Three relatives of the victims will meet with Alaaeldin Kashef on March 1, three days after the third anniversary of the accident in Egypt’s ancient city of Luxor, said family member Siu Chi-keung. It would be the first time Kashef – who took the post in 2014 – has met them. Siu lost his... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1917572/egypt-balloon-disaster-bereaved-families-meet-egypts-consul-general?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1917572/egypt-balloon-disaster-bereaved-families-meet-egypts-consul-general?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Feb 2016 12:46:23 +0000 A tear in the fuel hose blamed for the hot air balloon tragedy that killed nine Hongkongers in Egypt in 2013 has never happened before or since, according to a British expert. Ian Chadwick, from the British Civil Aviation Authority, also told an inquest that it was not technically possible to introduce “a dead man’s handle” to hot air balloons. But he stressed that aviators around the world are working to ensure the activity’s safety, with talks up in the air to set a European standard that will... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1917568/fuel-hose-leak-hasnt-happened-or-egypt-balloon-disaster-expert-tells?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1917568/fuel-hose-leak-hasnt-happened-or-egypt-balloon-disaster-expert-tells?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Feb 2016 12:03:23 +0000 The travel agency that led the tour to Egypt on which nine Hongkongers died in a hot air balloon tragedy in 2013 admitted to an inquest that it did not verify claims that the service provider was licensed and insured. Lau Tak-ping, head of Kuoni’s product development, also admitted that customers were not reminded of the activity’s degree of risk, which the company had categorised as “moderate”. He conceded that it would have been better to keep customers informed of that assessment. The nine... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1915240/egypt-balloon-tragedy-inquest-hears-travel-agency-didnt-verify?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1915240/egypt-balloon-tragedy-inquest-hears-travel-agency-didnt-verify?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Feb 2016 08:41:22 +0000 The travel agency that led the tour of Hongkongers who died in a hot air balloon tragedy in Egypt in 2013 told an inquest there was no formal evaluation of the activity’s safety in the aftermath of the disaster. Lau Tak-ping, Kuoni's head of product development, testified that his agency ceased to offer the activity because its staff had “bad memories” about the balloons and were still very afraid. Nine Hongkongers aged between 33 and 62 died in Luxor on February 26, 2013, when a hot air balloon... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1914173/hong-kong-travel-agency-stopped-offering-balloon-trips-because-staff?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1914173/hong-kong-travel-agency-stopped-offering-balloon-trips-because-staff?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Feb 2016 13:03:52 +0000 A man who lost his wife and three in-laws in a hot air balloon tragedy in Egypt three years ago said a tour escort told him the balloon had merely drifted away when he anxiously inquired about their late return to the hotel. The testimony of Wong Kong-sing, 71, came as the coroner’s court heard for the first time tour escort Wilson Au’s internal report submitted to Kuoni travel agency’s management. The inquest before coroner June Cheung Tin-ngan followed the death of nine Hongkongers in Luxor on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1913974/tour-escort-told-me-balloon-had-drifted-rather-crashed-widower-tells?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1913974/tour-escort-told-me-balloon-had-drifted-rather-crashed-widower-tells?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Feb 2016 13:05:05 +0000 A Hong Kong tour escort told an inquest on Tuesday that his company did not officially inform him about the risks of hot air balloon activities before his tour’s ill-fated ride in Egypt in 2013, when a balloon caught fire, killing nine Hongkongers. Wilson Au, 30, of Kuoni travel agency also testified that his tour members were only told about the price, duration and connecting transport for the balloon ride. READ MORE: Tour guide for nine Hongkongers killed in Egypt balloon disaster testifies at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1913475/i-was-not-told-about-risks-hot-air-balloons-hong-kong-tour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1913475/i-was-not-told-about-risks-hot-air-balloons-hong-kong-tour?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Feb 2016 08:07:49 +0000 The hot air balloon on which nine Hongkongers died in Egypt in 2013 burst into flames 10 minutes after take-off and disappeared as staff went chasing after it, a tour escort told an inquest yesterday. Wilson Au retold the tragic story in testimony at the Coroner’s Court in Sai Wan Ho on Monday as the inquest got underway after two adjournments spanning three years. The inquest looked into the tragedy which left nine Hongkongers dead in Luxor on February 26, 2013. Ten other passengers, from other... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1913346/tour-guide-nine-hongkongers-killed-egypt-balloon-disaster-testifies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1913346/tour-guide-nine-hongkongers-killed-egypt-balloon-disaster-testifies?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Feb 2016 12:18:23 +0000 The Hong Kong Coroner's Court is to hold an inquest into last year's hot-air balloon tragedy in Egypt which cost the lives of nine tourists from the city. It is understood the inquest will not start until late this year at the earliest, according to relatives of the deceased who attended a pre-hearing briefing at the Sai Wan Ho court yesterday. "We want to find out what happened - from start to finish," said Siu Chi-keung, whose brother Siu Chi-man and sister-in-law Eleni Kwan Pui-man, both aged... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1521221/inquest-egypt-balloon-tragedy-could-start-end-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1521221/inquest-egypt-balloon-tragedy-could-start-end-year?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 May 2014 10:30:45 +0000 Relatives of the nine Hongkongers who died in a hot-air balloon tragedy in Egypt have won a small but crucial victory, with confirmation that their loved ones were covered by an insurance policy. The news comes just ahead of the first anniversary of the accident on Wednesday. The relatives got the insurance documents only after demanding for months that travel agent Kuoni obtain the policy from Sky Cruises, the hot-air balloon company in the ancient temple city of Luxor that chartered the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1433556/egyptian-balloon-tragedy-company-confirms-victims-had-insurance-cover?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1433556/egyptian-balloon-tragedy-company-confirms-victims-had-insurance-cover?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Feb 2014 21:11:17 +0000 A hot air disaster crash in Egypt last year that killed 19 tourists, nine of them from Hong Kong, was probably caused by a gas leak, an official Egyptian report released yesterday said. A fact-finding committee found the "likely cause" of the accident in February in Luxor was "a gas leak in the upper section of the hose ... near the burner", the report said. The leak sparked a blaze that spread throughout the balloon, it said. Relatives of the Hong Kong victims – four men and five women, aged 33... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1400293/gas-leak-caused-2013-egypt-balloon-crash-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1400293/gas-leak-caused-2013-egypt-balloon-crash-report?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jan 2014 18:45:00 +0000 Relatives of victims killed in the hot-air balloon crash in Egypt earlier this year are seeking help from the Security Bureau to call for a coroner's inquest and to push for a full report on the tragedy from Egyptian authorities. Four family members representing six of nine Hong Kong tourists affected by the tragedy met security chief Lai Tung-kwok for the first time yesterday to push for "close communication on a monthly basis". The decision on whether a coroner's inquest should be opened... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1308525/families-egypt-balloon-disaster-victims-just-want-truth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1308525/families-egypt-balloon-disaster-victims-just-want-truth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Sep 2013 16:00:00 +0000 The finding by Egyptian investigators that a hot air balloon accident that killed 19 tourists, nine of them from Hong Kong, was caused by pilot error is of cold comfort to the relatives and friends of those who died. Nor is it surprising - the craft had been involved in a mishap two years ago and the country's ballooning industry has a poor record. The way is now clear for compensation claims, but that should not be where the matter ends. From the tragedy has to come a worldwide transformation... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1256033/international-body-needed-fix-ballooning-problems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1256033/international-body-needed-fix-ballooning-problems?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Nick Wong lost his mother Ho Oi-ying and three other family members in the hot-air balloon crash that killed nine Hongkongers in Luxor, Egypt, three months ago. Learning that an official report had pinpointed human error as the cause of the crash, he called on local tour agencies to step up protection for tour members joining optional activities overseas. "Bad fortune befell my family. But if the loopholes are not plugged, tragedies will happen again," he said yesterday. An inquiry in Egypt... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1255182/give-tourists-greater-protection-says-relative-egypt-crash-victims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1255182/give-tourists-greater-protection-says-relative-egypt-crash-victims?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Human error was to blame for the hot air balloon disaster in Egypt that killed nine Hongkongers in February, a criminal investigation has found. A final report on the accident in Luxor concluded the fire in the balloon was caused by a gas leak from a pipe that was installed by an unqualified worker. Luxor's top prosecutor, Mohamed Fahmi, said: "The pilot and the maintenance engineer did not make necessary technical checks before taking off." He said the result supported the decision to detain... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1254733/egypt-balloon-disaster-killed-nine-hong-kong-tourists-blamed-human?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1254733/egypt-balloon-disaster-killed-nine-hong-kong-tourists-blamed-human?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Jun 2013 04:52:35 +0000 Egyptian authorities have backtracked on a promise by allowing balloon flights to resume in Luxor yesterday - the first since the February 26 crash that killed 19 people, including nine Hongkongers. Mohammed Ibrahim Sherif, head of the civil aviation authority, said the balloons were launched in the southern city after safety measures were implemented. He said five out of seven firms had resumed flights. Authorities had earlier said flights would not resume until an investigation into the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1219989/luxor-resumes-hot-air-balloon-trips-tourists-despite-pledge-after-tragedy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1219989/luxor-resumes-hot-air-balloon-trips-tourists-despite-pledge-after-tragedy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Apr 2013 11:12:27 +0000 The pilot of the hot-air balloon that crashed in Egypt in February killing 19 people - nine of them Hongkongers - has been arrested and ordered to prison pending the outcome of an investigation, balloon operators say. But the hospital where Moman Mourad is recovering under police guard, say he is still too ill to be moved. Meanwhile, aviation staff have gone on strike in protest at the arrest of balloon airport supervisor Mohamed al-Taher, who is also in custody while the investigation... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1217834/egyptian-balloon-crash-pilot-moman-mourad-faces-jail-after-being?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1217834/egyptian-balloon-crash-pilot-moman-mourad-faces-jail-after-being?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000 A teachers' union that is a licensed insurance seller will remind clients to read the exclusion clauses when buying travel policies, a senior officer says. The Professional Teachers' Union was responding to criticism in the aftermath of a hot-air balloon accident in Luxor, Egypt, in February that killed nine Hongkongers. Six of the nine had bought travel insurance from the union but were not covered for taking part in aviation activities such as hot-air ballooning. The union came under fire for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1212489/insurance-seller-luxor-tragedy-remind-clients-exclusions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1212489/insurance-seller-luxor-tragedy-remind-clients-exclusions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000 The importance of travelling with insurance cannot be overstated. When misfortune falls, even the most seasoned travellers can be left in a vulnerable situation. Travel insurance is, therefore, essential. Due to a growing awareness of the risks and liabilities brought on by accidents, few would leave home without taking out some sort of policy today. But how well they are covered by their insurance is another matter. Increasing travel convenience and tourism growth means the market is flooded... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1194057/balloon-disaster-underscores-attention-needed-travel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1194057/balloon-disaster-underscores-attention-needed-travel?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 In the aftermath of the Egyptian hot-air balloon tragedy, families of the victims have found themselves bitterly disappointed by their travel insurance. The problem? A proviso in some of the victims' policies. While it did cover aerial activities such as parachuting and "air travel as a passenger in a properly licensed power-driven aircraft", it did not include hot-air ballooning. The tragedy has forced Hongkongers to review exactly what coverage they are getting when they buy travel insurance.... https://www.scmp.com/business/money/money-news/article/1193233/travellers-must-beware-holes-their-holiday-insurance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/money/money-news/article/1193233/travellers-must-beware-holes-their-holiday-insurance?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Find a home for traditional medicine I refer to the report ("University gains Legco support over land use", March 12). I am in my fifth year at Baptist University studying for a bachelor of Chinese medicine and bachelor of science (hons) in biomedical science. Because of the lack of a Chinese medicine teaching hospital in Hong Kong, Chinese medicine students have to do their clinical internships in hospitals on the mainland. However, the medical system there is different and so the health-care... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/1191890/letters-editor-march-16-2013?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/1191890/letters-editor-march-16-2013?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 A top executive of an insurance company that has refused to compensate the deaths of six Hongkongers in Egypt claimed yesterday that their policies clearly stated hot-air balloon flights would not be covered. China Merchants Group vice-president Li Yinquan disputed relatives' claims that exclusion clauses were not clear. "This is precisely documented in text … It is clearly stated in the insurance contract," he said. In a copy of one of the China Merchant insurance policies seen by the South... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1190044/policy-clear-hot-air-balloon-flights-are-not-covered-insurance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1190044/policy-clear-hot-air-balloon-flights-are-not-covered-insurance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Family members of the Hongkongers who perished in last month's Egypt balloon crash have raised questions about loopholes in the insurance policies their loved ones bought. Three relatives of the deceased, from the Ho and Siu families, spoke to the Hong Kong press for the first time yesterday, after the China Merchants Insurance Company refused to fork out compensation to six of the nine people who died. The six whose deaths have been excluded from compensation had bought their policies at the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1189360/families-egypt-balloon-crash-victims-question-insurance-company-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1189360/families-egypt-balloon-crash-victims-question-insurance-company-over?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:12:46 +0000 Families of the balloon crash victims who bought travel cover from China Merchants Insurance that excludes them from compensation are considering suing the company, a unionist who is assisting them said. Roy Cheung Wai-leung, chairman of the Hong Kong Insurance Practitioners General Union, said his organisation was so far assisting the families of four of the six victims affected. Together with help from Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker Kwok Wai-keung, Cheung said the families would detail... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1188812/families-may-sue-insurers-who-say-egypt-victims-not-covered?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1188812/families-may-sue-insurers-who-say-egypt-victims-not-covered?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 The bodies of nine Hong Kong people who were among the 19 killed in a hot air balloon tragedy in Egypt last month were flown back to Hong Kong on Monday. The bodies of the five women and four men have arrived in Hong Kong and will be transferred to a public mortuary, a government spokeswoman said. The balloon was carrying 21 people at an altitude of 300 metres during a sunrise flight over Egypt’s ancient temple city of Luxor on February 26 when it caught fire. The other victims include Japanese,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1188555/egypt-balloon-crash-bodies-flown-back-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1188555/egypt-balloon-crash-bodies-flown-back-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:48:53 +0000 Balloon accident victims' bodies returned home The bodies of the nine Hongkongers killed in a hot-air balloon explosion in Egypt last month are expected to arrive in the city today at about 5.30pm and be transferred to Kwai Chung Public Mortuary, according to the Immigration Department. The nine were among 19 killed after their balloon caught fire during a sightseeing trip in Luxor. Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department said Egyptian authorities had turned down its request to help investigate... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1187894/talking-points?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1187894/talking-points?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Integrated Wi-fi network needed in city I enjoy the convenience of using the mobile internet on my smartphone. Thanks to Wi-fi networks, you can now browse websites, listen to music, watch films and read and answer e-mails swiftly and with ease. My Wi-fi device at home has become a standard household fixture, but Wi-fi networks outside are still unsatisfactory. Hot spots pop up in shopping malls, coffee shops, restaurants and the MTR. But complicated log-ins with terms and conditions and... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/1187893/letters-editor-march-11-2013?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/1187893/letters-editor-march-11-2013?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Return of balloon victims' bodies delayed The plane that was due to bring home the bodies of the nine Hong Kong tourists who were killed in the balloon disaster in Egypt last month was cancelled on Friday because of poor weather. Another flight has been arranged and is scheduled to depart today, flying via Zurich. The bodies will arrive back on Monday night.   Cooling measures are working: Exco member Executive Councillor Barry Cheung Chun-yuen said recent measures to cool the property market,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1187303/briefs-march-10-2013?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1187303/briefs-march-10-2013?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Australian toddler dies after fall from window A three-year-old Australian girl died after she fell from the window of her second-floor bedroom at block two of Pacific View, Stanley at about 6pm last night. She was found lying in the garden area of the Tai Tam Road property and was certified dead at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital.   Balloon-crash victims' bodies returning to HK The bodies of the nine Hongkongers who died in the Egypt hot-air balloon crash two weeks ago were yesterday... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1186611/city-digest-march-9-2013?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1186611/city-digest-march-9-2013?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Nine Hong Kong citizens died needlessly in the Luxor balloon crash, but Egyptian authorities say they don't need any foreign representative involved in their probe. This is worse than a snub; it's a blatant violation of international protocol and a lack of plain human decency. The Hong Kong government is at fault too for not pressing its case harder or early enough. But the greater blame must lie with the Egyptian government. It initially appeared to agree to Hong Kong's sending an aviation... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1185782/hong-kong-must-stand-egypt-over-probe-balloon-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1185782/hong-kong-must-stand-egypt-over-probe-balloon-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Egyptian authorities have turned down a request from the Hong Kong government to help investigate the hot-air balloon crash that killed 19 people, including nine local tourists, last week. This was disclosed last night in a reply to press inquiries from the Civil Aviation Department which appeared to suggest that the Egyptian government's decision went against international practice. It brought strong criticism of both governments by a former department chief who said the Egyptians had acted too... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1184354/hong-kong-aviation-officials-left-out-egypt-crash-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1184354/hong-kong-aviation-officials-left-out-egypt-crash-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 The pilot of the ill-fated Egyptian hot-air balloon which last week crashed and killed 19 tourists - including nine from Hong Kong - told his boss that he tried to reach the safety valves of the gas tanks to stop the leak but failed because he was on fire. Speaking to the media for the first time since the tragedy in the southern city of Luxor, Ahmad El Sawy, the head of Sky Cruise, which owned the balloon, told reporters in Cairo on Monday he had visited pilot Moman Mourad in hospital, where he... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1180403/pilot-tried-vain-reach-safety-valve?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1180403/pilot-tried-vain-reach-safety-valve?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 The only holidaymaker who survived last week's hot-air balloon disaster in Egypt that left nine Hongkongers dead has described the swift, uncontrolled ignition that sparked the tragedy as "hell". Michael Rennie, who watched from the ground as his wife, Yvonne, died in the flaming balloon, recounted his ordeal to investigators in Egypt, Scottish newspaper The Courier reported. "It was hell. The balloon went up in flames only three seconds after the gas leak started," the 49-year-old construction... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1177237/egypt-hot-air-balloon-crash-was-hell-says-scottish-survivor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1177237/egypt-hot-air-balloon-crash-was-hell-says-scottish-survivor?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 The Wall Street Journal on Monday tweeted an astounding fact on the high cost of living in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, milk goes for about $10.22 a gallon and gas sells for about $8.10 a gallon. on.wsj.com/12htLAf — Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 4, 2013 Among the top 10 cities for luxury living - including New York, Paris, London and Sydney - Hong Kong is the priciest, according to a wealth report. Luxury two-bedroom apartments there typically sell for US$4.81 million. The cost of consumer... https://www.scmp.com/comment/blogs/article/1175662/worlds-priciest-luxury-city-baby-formula-most-precious-commodity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/blogs/article/1175662/worlds-priciest-luxury-city-baby-formula-most-precious-commodity?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Mar 2013 02:47:44 +0000 The identities of all nine Hong Kong victims killed in last week's hot-air balloon explosion in Egypt have been confirmed, some by overnight DNA testing back in Hong Kong, a process that normally takes a week. When the victims' remains would be returned, however, was uncertain. Egyptian, Chinese and local officials yesterday merely said they guaranteed a "prompt and safe" final return trip for the deceased. The Government Laboratory received the body samples after 10pm on Saturday and announced... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1174087/bodies-last-hong-kong-balloon-victims-identified-through-dna?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1174087/bodies-last-hong-kong-balloon-victims-identified-through-dna?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Egyptian balloon pilots have leapt to the defence of their colleague who survived last week's disaster in Luxor that left 19 tourists dead, including nine from Hong Kong. They suspect the crash was caused by faulty hardware rather than human error on the part of Moman Mourad, the 28-year-old Sky Cruise pilot who jumped from the balloon and suffered severe burns. Ahmed Hussein, who has been flying for eight years with a rival company, Magic Horizon Balloons, said: "Moman is a good pilot." He was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1174074/balloon-pilot-was-not-blame-disaster-egypt-say-colleagues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1174074/balloon-pilot-was-not-blame-disaster-egypt-say-colleagues?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Operators of hot-air balloons in Luxor may restart their trips this week despite ongoing investigations into the accident that killed nine Hongkongers and 10 other tourists on Tuesday. The governor of Luxor said pressure was mounting on authorities to restart the dawn flights because the city depended on tourism. Since the 2011 revolution that toppled president Hosni Mubarak, Luxor had been hard hit by reduced visitor numbers and the balloon tragedy was set to cripple business further, governor... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1171527/egyptian-balloon-operators-could-be-back-business-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1171527/egyptian-balloon-operators-could-be-back-business-week?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Mar 2013 20:16:10 +0000 Relatives of the nine Hong Kong tourists who died in last week's hot-air balloon explosion made a tearful pilgrimage to the site of the disaster in Egypt yesterday. They gathered in the field where the balloon crashed near the village of Hager El Dibie, west of Luxor, to perform mourning rituals. Accompanied by Hong Kong officials, the families - who had made the one-hour flight south from Cairo - lit incense and made offerings of fruit. Each family member carried white chrysanthemums, which... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1171060/relatives-hong-kong-balloon-victims-gather-crash-site-egypt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1171060/relatives-hong-kong-balloon-victims-gather-crash-site-egypt?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 "See you again." Those are the final words on video footage that shows, in chilling retrospect, the last moments of tourists as they board the Sky Cruise flight in Luxor. Their hot-air balloon crashed less than an hour after the video was taken, killing everyone on board except a tourist and pilot. In the candid scenes, visitors from Hong Kong, France, Japan, Britain, Hungary and Egypt merrily wave at the camera and snap pictures as the balloon is inflated. A young Chinese woman poses for photos... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1170933/video-chilling-prelude-balloon-calamity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1170933/video-chilling-prelude-balloon-calamity?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Until tragedy struck in Luxor, hot-air balloons were most famously associated with the film version of Jules Verne's classic novel Around the World in 80 Days, or the exploits of English billionaire adventurer Richard Branson. Although a journey by balloon has become one of the images most strongly associated with the film, this iconic symbol was never deployed in the book by Verne himself - the idea is briefly raised but dismissed, as it "would have been highly risky and, in any case,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1170935/luxor-tragedy-puts-safety-hot-air-balloons-doubt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1170935/luxor-tragedy-puts-safety-hot-air-balloons-doubt?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Six of the nine Hong Kong victims in the hot-air balloon crash in Luxor have been identified by relatives but the remaining three are too badly disfigured and will need forensic or DNA tests. Chief inspector Cheung Wai-man of the Hong Kong police said in Cairo yesterday that three men and three women had been visually identified. Two men and a woman remained unidentified although all three were confirmed to be from Hong Kong. The relatives of the victims from three families spent nine hours... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1167635/relatives-identify-luxor-crash-victims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1167635/relatives-identify-luxor-crash-victims?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 The governor of the Egyptian city of Luxor and the operator of the hot-air balloon that exploded and killed 19 tourists have apologised for the tragedy. Governor Ezzat Saad also told local media he was willing to introduce tougher safety measures for balloons if an investigation indicated a need. "I feel very sorry about it and I would like to take this opportunity to send my condolences to the families of the nine Hong Kong people who died in this accident," he said. "We will see what the exact... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1167533/governor-luxor-apologises-deadly-balloon-tragedy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1167533/governor-luxor-apologises-deadly-balloon-tragedy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 In the wake of the tragedy in Egypt, the mainland's biggest hot-air balloon club is urging the government to take steps to stop illegal flights and balloon manufacturing in China. Cheng Peng , general manager of the club based in Tianjin , told the South China Morning Post that there were nearly 100 active hot-air balloon clubs on the mainland, but only four or five were licensed to train pilots and organise flights. Additionally, he said, materials were often illegally made and did not meet... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1167529/beijing-urged-tighten-controls-over-hot-air-balloons-after-tragedy-egypt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1167529/beijing-urged-tighten-controls-over-hot-air-balloons-after-tragedy-egypt?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Six of the nine Hong Kong victims of the Luxor balloon crash have been identified by their relatives, a Hong Kong police officer said in Cairo on Friday. Tuesday’s balloon crash at near the Egyptian city of Luxor, the country’s ancient capital and a major tourist attraction, killed 19 tourists, nine of whom were from Hong Kong – and members of the Ho, Poon and Siu families. The six deceased were identified by their relatives, and DNA testing was not used, said chief police inspector Cheung... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1166255/six-nine-luxor-balloon-crash-victims-identified?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1166255/six-nine-luxor-balloon-crash-victims-identified?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:19:14 +0000 Hong Kong police have been given an advisory role in Egypt's investigation into the deadly hot-air balloon crash in Luxor that killed 19 tourists, including nine Hongkongers. The head of the investigation, Walid el-Moqadem, told Associated Press yesterday that while Hong Kong, would not be sending investigators at present, they had been granted an advisory role - along with Britain, Japan and Hungary. They would also be kept appraised of his progress through e-mails. Earlier, the Civil Aviation... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1163970/hong-kong-police-advise-luxor-balloon-tragedy-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1163970/hong-kong-police-advise-luxor-balloon-tragedy-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:00:00 +0000