The Lamma shipwreck family obtained a copy of the death investigation report submitted by the police in 2015 to the coroner in September this year. The media reported the contents of the report recently, revealing that the Marine Department personnel had experienced the ship but did not find the lack of a watertight door, saying that there was no clear text inside. Ship survey guidelines, it is more customary to survey ships without plans, and many key figures also confessed contradictions or refused to take confessions.
However, Chief Executive Carrie Lam insisted not to disclose the entire internal investigation report, which may make it difficult for the families of the 39 deceased to let go.
Finding out the cause of death in a shipwreck and investigating accountability have been the demands of family members for many years.
The independent investigation committee completed in 2013 revealed multiple errors in the Marine Department's approval of the Lamma 4 shipbuilding plans and survey procedures, including the rapid sinking of the ship due to the lack of a watertight door.
Subsequent internal investigations by the government found that 17 Marine Department officers were involved in improper conduct and pointed out that individual officers were punished for disciplinary action.
Zhang Bingliang, then director of the Transport and Housing Bureau, said that the report was "impossible not to be made public" and "there is nothing to conceal." However, when Chief Executive Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor responded to reporters on Tuesday (7th), on the grounds of protecting personal information, he said that it is inappropriate to disclose the internal investigation report.
In 2015, the police submitted more than 2,000 pages of the "Lamma Shipwreck Death Investigation Report" to the coroner. There were 91 witnesses' confessions, and it was concluded that a coroner's inquiry should be held.
(Photo by Yu Junliang)
No objection to being killed illegally
The independent investigation report failed to completely solve the mystery, and the internal report was not seen. The family naturally hoped to convene the coroner's court. The witnesses were cross-examined by the family's lawyers in public and truthfully confessed, and finally found out the truth.
The death investigation report completed by the police in 2015 also specifically mentioned that many people, including employees of the Marine Department, had not been summoned to give evidence at a public hearing. They also pointed out that the shipwreck involved major public interests and supported the convening of a coroner's court.
However, according to the Coroner Ordinance, the purpose of the coroner’s inquiry "must be to study the cause of the death and the circumstances related to the death." The final result only needs to conclude on the type of cause of death of the deceased, such as accident, legal Killed and illegally killed, etc.
As the coroner mentioned in his letter to his family last year, the victim has been directly ruled that he was killed illegally, and other evidence will not change this ruling, so the decision not to convene a coroner's court is justified.
When the Coroner's Court is not arguing whether the cause of death was accidental or illegal killing, the responsibility for the investigation will remain with the administrative and law enforcement agencies.
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The government wants to lead family members out of society
In fact, the police conducted in-depth investigations after the government completed an independent investigation and found many new clues and questions. After interrogating 91 people and taking confessions, they learned that at least 17 did not testify before the investigation committee.
The police report pointed out that no one at Lamma Shipyard 4 was responsible for verifying the plans and ensuring that the ships were built according to the plans. Some shipyard employees admitted that there were documents instructing the installation of watertight doors but the directors denied it.
As for the Marine Department, there are 19 officers who have experienced ship or approved plans, but have not found that the plans are inconsistent with the actual situation, nor have they noticed that the plans are inconsistent with the actual sinking data of the ship. Some personnel have said that the usual survey of ships does not carry the plans. Then, only visually judge whether the structure has been changed, even without formal training.
In addition, the police also questioned that the employees of the Haitai ship watched the 24-hour shift, which might lead to work fatigue without being aware of the Lamma 4.
Now that the police have collected new information about the Lamma shipwreck, the government can publish the internal investigation report.
Although the authorities may have privacy and confidentiality considerations to balance personal information, the government can also restrict the family members of the deceased from reading behind closed doors.
The Chief Executive, the Transportation and Housing Bureau, and the Chief of the Maritime Department can also meet with family members and personally explain the progress of the investigation and accountability.
If you do nothing, you will naturally not be able to lead your family and society out of the shadow of a shipwreck.
Eight years after the Lamma shipwreck, the government is obliged to take responsibility for the backlog of death court cases. The court administration should reform the cause of death. The long trial period cannot be resolved by additional judges alone.