Hong Kong court says ferry lost in 2012 tragedy had met safety standards

Coroner Monica Chow Wai-cho said that the decision of the builder of Lamma IV to omit a watertight door was a rational one instead of merely being an oversight, though she stated that the deaths that resulted from the incident were "unlawful."

Court documents had earlier revealed that a director at Cheoy Lee Shipyards, which built Lamma IV, decided to incorporate a hatch between the ferry's two stern compartments but without a watertight door. The omission of this door was initially believed to have contributed to the water ingress that caused people to be trapped on board the vessel as it sank following the collision.

The victims' families have expressed disappointment at the court's decision, insisting that the ill-fated ferry's design flaws are being overlooked as part of a broader cover-up.

The familiies told local media that they are now considering their next steps with regard to seeking accountability for the tragedy.