Police have charged a KMB bus driver with dangerous driving causing death following Saturday’s fatal crash in Tai Po that killed 19 people and left scores more injured, one of the deadliest such incidents in Hong Kong history.
The 30-year-old bus driver, identified by local media as Chan Ho-ming, was charged last night, and appeared at Fanling Magistrates’ Court this morning, where reporters and photographers can be seen pressing their cameras against the police van to get a glimpse of the accused.
According to RTHK, of the passengers still in hospital, six remain in critical condition, seven were seriously injured, and 23 were in stable condition.
The outlet reported that, as of yesterday, 27 people had been discharged.
The charge comes after chief executive Carrie Lam announced the government will cancel this weekend’s Lunar New Year fireworks out of respect for the victims, telling reporters at a press briefing that it was “not very appropriate” to go ahead with the spectacle in light of the tragedy.
The fireworks display had been set for 8pm on Saturday and was to have run for 23 minutes. The display would have been held on the seventh day after the tragedy, which is when, according to Chinese tradition, the spirit of a dead person returns home to bid a final farewell to loved ones, the SCMP noted.
In addition to the cancellation of the Lunar New Year fireworks display, Lam also said the Hong Kong and national flags will fly at half-mast at the government’s headquarters today, adding that her cabinet will hold a minute of silence before the Executive Council meeting.
Also late Monday, the Hong Kong Jockey Club announced that its normal Wednesday horse races will still take place, but that one minute of silence would be observed for those who died in the accident. The club added that it would fly its flag at half mast as well.
Lam said city officials would refrain from attending any major celebratory events in the “next one or two weeks.”
While news of the tragedy shocked Hongkongers, it also propelled many to find ways of helping the families.
Apple Daily reported that over the weekend, more than 2,200 people were seen queuing up outside Red Cross centers in the city to donate blood, with some waiting as long as four hours.
Among the blood donors was Civic Party lawmaker Tanya Chan, who posted on Instagram “I hope I can help those in need.”
Actor Michael Tong told the outlet that he waited for two hours.
“There’s no harm in giving blood,” he said, adding that the scenes at Red Cross centers were proof of the Hong Kong “lion rock spirit,” a saying that refers to Hongkongers’ “can-do” attitude.
The crash occurred on Saturday evening, when a KMB bus traveling from Sha Tin racecourse towards Tai Po lost control and flipped on its side while making a turn near Tai Po Mei.
Most victims of the accident on Saturday evening, which saw the double decker flip and smash into a lamppost, were men in their 50s and 60s.
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