News Digest

Hong Kong captain ‘guilty’ of manslaughter over 2012 ferry tragedy

A Hong Kong boat captain was on Saturday found guilty of the manslaughter of 39 people in a 2012 ferry collision, the city’s worst maritime disaster in nearly four decades. Sea Smooth skipper Lai Sai-ming, 56, was also convicted of one count of endangering safety of others at sea by a Hong Kong court over the accident between his high-speed ferry and a pleasure boat near Lamma Island. Lai looked solemn as he heard the “guilty” verdicts for all charges against him read out in court, which was packed with reporters. The nine-member jury found Lai was guilty on all manslaughter charges with a majority of seven-to-two.

Mr. Lai will be sentenced on Monday.

Audrey Campbell-Moffat, Mr Lai’s lawyer

Chow Chi-wai, 58, who was steering the Lamma IV pleasure boat when it crashed with more than 120 people on board on October 1, 2012, was acquitted of all 39 charges of manslaughter. However, he was also found guilty of one count of endangering the safety of others at sea. Chow looked calm as the verdicts of all charges against him were read out in court, with all 39 manslaughter charges given a “not guilty” verdict with a majority of eight-to-one jurors. Chow’s lawyer, Gerard McCoy, did not comment on the verdict.