Probe into fatal Hong Kong ferry collision may take six months - Reuters [getdailynow.blogspot.com]
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A sunken ferry is lifted out of the water after a collision off Hong Kong October 2, 2012.
Credit: Reuters/Tyrone Siu
HONG KONG |
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong authorities began inspecting the wreckage of a leisure ship on Wednesday amid questions over how a collision with a commuter ferry in relatively calm weather could have killed 38 people in one of the city's worst accidents in recent decades.
The exact circumstances surrounding the crash remain unclear, but television footage showed the party ship suffered a massive hole in its rear hull, which saw it partially sink, and the ferry a severely damaged bow, suggesting they may have been passing each other in the night.
The director of Hong Kong's Marine Department, Francis Liu, told Hong Kong's Cable Television that the probe could take six months and would look at why one boat sank so quickly and whether or not the boat violated safety specifications.
Authorities have not ruled out prosecuting those found criminally liable for the crash and Hong Kong's new leader Leung Chun-ying said a commission of inquiry would be formed to prevent further accidents in future.
Seven crew members, including the captains of both vessels that were arrested on suspicion of endangering the safety of others at sea, have now been released on bail.
Hong Kong is one of the world's busiest ports but maritime accidents are rare. The tragedy is the worst to hit Hong Kong since 1996 when more than 40 people died in a fire in a commercial building.
The sunken boat, owned by Hongkong Electric, a unit of Power Assets Holdings which is controlled by Asia's richest man Li Ka-shing, was taking staff and family to Victoria Harbour on Monday night to see a fireworks display when it collided with a ferry heading to Lamma island south of Hong Kong.
The Hongkong Electric boat, which was carrying around 130 people, quickly flooded and sank, trapping passengers underwater, while others jumped overboard.
Three minutes of silence will be observed on October 4 at noon, with the day marked as a day of condolence in the former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
Some public anger on Wednesday centered on why the captain of the ferry continued to Lamma island after the collision.
Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry Holdings, which owns the ferry, rejected accusations that the captain did not stop and said the boat had recently passed a regular safety inspection.
"At this stage, to speculate and say we ignored (the boat) and left is somewhat wrong ... we did immediately stop, and we didn't leave straight after the incident. But as to exactly what happened at that time, we still have to investigate," said Ng Siu-yuen, the firm's general manager, who revealed two relatives of his wife, both children, had died in the sunken ship.
Ng said the 54-year-old captain of the Lamma ferry, who had over 20 years experience, had been shaken by accident.
"The captain, even now when he walks he needs people to support him, and he doesn't really want to speak," he said.
Residents of Lamma island, an island popular with tourists and expatriates about a half-hour away from downtown Hong Kong, laid flowers for the victims over the pier. Hongkong Electric pledged HK$ 200,000 to the families of each of the dead.
(Additional reporting by Sisi Tang; Editing by Michael Perry)
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More Probe into fatal Hong Kong ferry collision may take six months - Reuters Topics Question by Elizabeth: What is considered "in-state" in Washington, DC universities? Would "in-state" in universities such as Georgetown and George Washington be considered only from DC or is the state of Maryland included? Well, this question is particularly for medical school acceptance rate of in-state vs out-of-state more than the tuition. I read somewhere that both of these medical schools accept 95% "out-of-state" and I was wondering if the 5% in-state included Maryland residents or only DC residents. Thank you! Best answer for What is considered "in-state" in Washington, DC universities?:
Answer by Miss T
I am pretty sure that Georgetown and George Washington are private universities so the tuition is the same whether or not you are from DC or not.
Answer by Amaretta
Maryland is not part of D.C., so Maryland residents would be considered out-of-state.
Answer by Arbitrary Person
Only DC residents. Which explains why only 5% of the students are in state.
Answer by Tennis.
"In- state" is within the boundaries of the district.
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