Questions from a Pak Kokian, received via Facebook message:
<OL><LI>Did the HKKF start the engine back up after the collision and were people in the water from Lamma IV at that point?
<LI>Did the HKKF throw in ant lifeboats, jackets or rings, before docking in safe harbour?
<LI>Was HKKF diverted from course (at high speed) from a junk or tug that has been first mentioned?</OL>
An update from Tannery Beach, below Lamma-1, where the HK Electric ferry has been moved to last night. Robert writes:

"Eerily, Lamma IV (FOUR- of all the numbers they could have used!) lists on the shore of Tannery beach having been hauled out earlier.
Looking at it, sections of the left side rear upper and lower decks have been sheared off, which must have been horrific for the jovial crowd who sat outside enjoying the breeze.
So if the rear left hand side of the Electric Co boat was hit by the front left hand side of HKKF, does this mean HKKF could not avoid the other boat's maneuver, or that HKKF simply did not see the other boat in time on radar, or visually?"

There's already a Wikipedia entry with most of the basic facts and dozens of links:
2012 Lamma Island boat disaster

Another 2 press releases by HK Electric, but still no word at all from HKFF.
[2 October 2012　9:00pm]
[2 October 2012　10:45am]

The SCMP mentioned in their "Heated debate online over the Hong Kong ferry tragedy" story today that there's a "Facebook page established to commemorate the victims" with 3,860 members set up yesterday. I couldn't find it. Anybody knows?

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According to the papers I read this morning, there is no 'passenger list' for the stricken ferry.

As for Yui Lai Fan....... her response.. she has asked the Government to carry out a 'safety assessment for the Ferry Pier area'!!

I'm trying not to jump to conclusions that this tragedy will give ammunition to her calls for a bicycle area.

Does anyone know if the emergency services were blocked from getting to the pier (although I'm sure hundreds of tourists on the pier would have been an impediment.)

Also wondering why HKKF haven't updated their web page since August? Or is this just the English language page.

Not much response from the lamma community either

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the ambulance was working hard in Yung Shue Wan. I'm guessing some boats were taking rescued people to the power station as the ambulance kept heading out that way and returning to the clinic. I think people rescued at the Pak Kok end were taken straight to hospitals on HK. Wouldn't make sense to bring them to YSW by ambulance - not an easy route. Maybe less serious cases brought this way by boat? Or perhaps just getting them out of the water and doing what they though best and fastest? I can imagine it was all pretty chaotic out there with many boat-owning locals just doing what they could to help.
The rescuers did a fantastic job and mobilsed pretty fast from what I hear. A friend in Pak Kok said he first became aware of what had happened about 15 minutes after the reported time of the accident and by that time the water was full of rescue boats and the helicopters had been there for a while.
It's very easy to sit at your computer and say what people should have done - can you be sure what you would do in such a situation? I doubt it.
Those ferry crews were under huge pressure all day to transport as many people as possible. Not excusing any negligence but no-one is at their best at the end of an exhausting day with no breaks.

I've just been informed that a public Condolences Book will be set up in the G/F offices of the Rural Committee opposite HSBC, available for your comments and signing, during office hours 9am-5pm, for the 3-day HK-wide mourning period.

Tomorrow noon, Thu, Oct 4, there'll be a 3-minute silence in the Rural Committee offices.

A bilingual Condolences Book will be set up on this website as well, of course.

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Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

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