Seven arrested for Hong Kong ferry collision

A criminal investigation has been started in Hong Kong after a collision between two ferries killed at least 38 people.

Carrying more than 120 employees and family members of Hong Kong Electric Co, a ferry owned by the city’s richest man Li Kashing partially sank after colliding with a commuter ferry on Monday.

The incident which is considered the city’s worst maritime disaster in four decades, occurred as the boat was heading to Victoria Harbour to Lamma Island to watch a fireworks display on China’s National Day.

Assistant professor of logistics and maritime studies at Hong Kong Polytechnic University Prakash Metaparti said it appeared that either one or both of the boats were going at a high speed resulting in such a high impact.

Seven crew members were arrested, including the captains of both ferries in connection with investigations but all have been released on bail.

The number of missing persons remains unclear as rescue divers continue their search at the crash site after the government recovered the vessel named “Lamma IV”.

During a press conference, police commissioner Tsang Wai-hung, said that the crew had not exercised the required legal care when manning the two vessels and investigations were focusing on criminal liability.

Some 95 passengers and four crew members were on board the commuter ferry operated by Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry Holdings Ltd.

The government said that thirty people were pronounced dead on the scene and eight shortly after arriving at the hospitals. Out of the passengers taken to five hospitals, three are still in serious or critical condition.