Return of National Day fireworks stirs painful memories of 2012 Lamma ferry disaster for Hong Kong families of victims, as long-awaited inquest looms

‘My wife drowned while on her way to see the fireworks 11 years ago. How can I enjoy fireworks on the same day?’ a victim’s husband says

After more than 10 years of searching for answers, families of victims say they saw the most progress over past year, with coroner’s inquest bid approved by High Court

Reading Time:4 minutes

Two passenger vessels collided off Lamma Island in 2012, throwing more than 120 people into the frigid, dark waters. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 2:00pm, 1 Oct 2023Updated: 6:12pm, 1 Oct 2023

For dozens of Hong Kong families, news of the return of National Day fireworks after a five-year break was not a cause for celebration but instead a painful reminder of the loss and grief they had endured.

“My wife drowned while on her way to see the fireworks 11 years ago. How can I enjoy fireworks on the same day?” Wong Tai-wah, 71, said.

Wong is among those who lost loved ones in one of Hong Kong’s deadliest maritime disasters in history, which claimed 39 lives on October 1, 2012, when two passenger vessels collided off Lamma Island, plunging more than 120 people into the frigid, dark waters.

Residents of Lamma Island attend a ritual performed by Buddhist monks for the victims of the ferry disaster in 2012. Photo: SCMP

The Lamma IV had set out to view the fireworks display with 124 passengers on board when it was struck on the port side by the Sea Smooth, operated by Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry. While the damaged Sea Smooth continued on to Yung Shue Wan, the other vessel sank within minutes.

Authorities earlier announced the National Day fireworks would make a comeback this year. The annual display was in 2019 cancelled amid the anti-government protests and did not return in the following three years of the Covid-19 pandemic.

After more than 10 years of searching for answers behind the tragedy, family members of victims told the Post they had seen the most progress over the past year.

In July, they won a legal battle as the High Court ordered a coroner’s inquest to investigate the deaths, overturning a previous ruling by a lower court.