Hong Kong ferry deaths report on hold pending criminal inquiries
CONCERNS that the release of the full report into the Lamma Island ferry collision in 2012 which killed 39 people has been withheld on Department of Justice advice that its publication could prejudice criminal investigation.
The report by Hong Kong's Transport and Housing Bureau into staff conduct at the Marine Department, responsible for regulating Hong Kong's ferry fleet, was found to have "systemic problems and deficiencies" and that there was evidence of "suspected criminality" at the department.
Without providing details, the report concludes that 13 serving and four retired Marine Department officers were guilty of misconduct while discharging their duties in respect of chartered ferry, Lamma IV, in the past.
But the report did set out what it considered to be failings in the Marine Department's management and work cultures, specifically that many senior officials "leave it to their subordinates to report problems" and assume all is well when no such reports arise.
This culture among the staff "inevitably led to compounding of errors as well as oversight and deficiencies in the operation of the Marine Department in the regime of control of local vessels", the report said.
Internal communication between the management and staff, and among staff themselves, was inadequate for the local vessel safety section. The report found that the chain of command in the LVSS at the time was confusing.
More clarity in defining the roles of different grades and ranks in the LVSS, the chain of command is "essential to operational efficiency and supervisory accountability."
A commission of inquiry launched following the casualty revealed "possible problems," including "maladministration and negligence of duty" by Hong Kong Marine Department officers," according to a summary of the report released by the Transport and Housing Bureau.
The 2012 commission report criticised the Marine Department for deficiencies in various work processes, including procedures and documentation, inspection/survey and damage stability calculations of Lamma IV, and the enforcement of the lifejacket requirement that had taken effect in 2008.