‘Each of the 39 deceased was killed unlawfully,’ court rules in Hong Kong ferry crash

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Brian WongJanuary 21, 2026 at 04:17 AM

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A Hong Kong court ruled that the 39 people who died in the 2012 Lamma Island ferry collision were unlawfully killed. The Coroner's Court reached this conclusion, citing gross negligence by the coxswains of both the Sea Smooth and Lamma IV ferries as the cause of the disaster on October 1, 2012. This ruling concludes a long-delayed inquest into the city's deadliest maritime disaster in decades, revisiting a 2020 decision against an inquiry due to prior investigations. While the ruling confirms unlawful killings, its impact is limited as the captains have already faced legal repercussions and damages claims have been settled. The inquest, prompted by victims' relatives, aimed to examine aspects not covered in previous hearings.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Sea Smooth 50% Lamma IV 50% Coroner Monica Chow Wai-choo 60% October 1, 2012 60% Lamma Island 70% Hong Kong 90%

Keywords

ferry crash 100% unlawful killing 90% maritime disaster 80% gross negligence 70% inquest 60% court ruling 60% coxswains 50% lamma island 50% ferries 40%