1925-09-05 — Page 4

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SATURDAY SEFTE

PO HING FONG DISASTER

CORONER'S SUMMING-UP AND JURY'S VERDICT.

enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of the victims of the Po Hing Fong food disaster was concluded at the Central

yesterday afternoon,

Me. S. B. B. MeRiderry was the Caroner. The Jury comprised Capt. Thomas Arthur (foreman), Mr. Ho Kom Tong and Mr. J. Sheppard." Mr. F. C. Jenkin attended the enquiry on behalf of five families involved in the catastrophe (the famihes of Chau Sin Ki Chu Seng Sang, Chu Chung How, Wong Pak San and Chiu Yuk Chow),

A joint expert report on the disaster was prepared by Lieut-Colonel Russell Brown, D.S.0 and Mr. P. R. Warren of Messrs. Armstrong, Whitworth, & Co., who were called in to investigate the problems from independent standpoint. This report was considered by the Jury on

Wednesday.

respons

́officer

1996

REDOD WATER

O much greater importance

question of the water which the | the retaining wall from Hospi sargin | Obviously as large volume of

lesign of opinion of the experts, that tho of safety allowed was insufficient... come over, on the morning of the col- wall stood nearly 30 years, during which lapse. The contractor's foreinan time the conditions, affecting, stability, wan bi Caine Road between 8 and appear to have changed for the worse; on the morning of 17th July han and I do not think that there is any us that about half the water that went evidence which would justify you in in over found its way down to the Dis puting criminal negligence to those who infecting Station and that the other half designed and approved the wall":

went into the foundation trenches He said that he actually saw water flowing into the trenches. He also said that in heavy rain water used always to go over the wall

NO. 6 POLICE STATION.

I come now to the actual carrying out of the scheme for the rebuilding of No. R.Police Station Demolition of the old

After the marsheds had fallen down station began in February or early March

he went and examined the trenches and 1905 The digging of the foundation noticed nothing except that they wer trenches for the new station was begun flooded to a depth of an inch or twos about vath May. By the end of June. At this time the canc

ncrater for filling concrete had been put in where foundation; except for the top layer of Yesterday afternoon was devoted to the Coroner's summing up. The

the trenches did not go down to large reinforced concrete, had all been laid Jury were occupied for half an hour in deciding upon their verdict.

boulders or solid rock. At the date of down, so that the floor of the trenches Before the Coroner's summing up Mr. slope between the foot of wall No. 2 the collapse, there still remained to be must have bech practically impervious to Jenkin asked whether he might address and top of wall No. 1 was part of the put in foundation reinforced concrete to water. We have all seen some pools of the Jury on the facts. He had been in-old natural ground. It was composed of a depth of from 8 inches të is inches water in a part of one of the trenches formed, he said, that this was the cus earth and boulders, some of enormous according to the weight to be carried where the door was of rock or boulders tom, but, of course, the matter was size, which had doubtless-rolled down Apart from the digging of the trenches and where concrete wax noc thought entirely in the Coroner's hands, from the cliffs above in previous ages the old cement flooring of the site had

not been disturbed, and on the date of necessary. We noticed that these pools The Coroner said that had Mr. Jenkin From the plans pat in in evidence it the collapse the wooden linings of the were taking long time to disappear. been representing anyans likely to be would appear that some of the surface trenches were projecting several feet The sides of the trenches were boarded, charged with manslaughter, he would of this slope was removed when wall above the surface for almost their whole and there was no butlet for water save

length. There was a small portion, of the have been right in addressing the Jury, No. 1 was built, and that the old natural Eastern end of the most southerly trench by seakage through the sides and floor. but in the present circumstances he did surface of the slope was therefore at a to which I shall refer later which had It appears to me. therefore that the foreman's story is inconsistent. If water

aa was flowing into the trenches in any quantity it could not have got away so quickly as to leave only an inch or two in the hatom when he looked in after the collapse of the sheds.

nét think it would be according to cus-higher level than the surface as it exist--not this projecting boarding. tom to hear Counsel's address.

Mr. Jenkin pointed out that he had como prepared to address the Jury, but the Coroner said he could not allow him

to do so.

It will be convenient also to consider at this point the question of the new retaining wall between the top of Hos pital Road and the site, referred to as Wall No. 4 in the report by the Experts The ahgnments of this wall and of the

ed prior to the collapse. In 1804, and again in 1855, there was a serious out break of plague in consequence of which an improvement scheme was devised for Tai Ping Shan, a district particularly old wall which it replaced are shown affected. In connection with this scheme on the plan put in by Mr. Goldsmith. CORONER'S SUMMING-UP.

the terrace where the Po Hing Fong The work of demolishing the old wall Addressing the Jury, the Coroner said: houses stood was carved out, and the re-and building the new was carried on Lest there should be any misunderstand-taining wall No. I built at the back to simultaneously. It was began on 17th was going down the trench at the bayo ing I should like in the first place to make support the face of the cutting. You have November, 1924, and the new wall was of the Hospital Road retaining wall and over into the Disinfecting Station. I it clear to you what are the functions of seen the drawings for this wall dated completed up to the level of the road an & Coroner's jury in an enquiry such as 12th November, 1890, with an additional 10th June, 1925. The parapet was to be have little doubt that what the forema

saw was a rush of water going over the the present It is your legal duty to bring height approved on 14th August, 1897, built by the Architectural Department

On the other hand we have abundant evidence that n large colume of water

in a verdict as to the cause of death of The wall was presumably, completed in later on. An area between the carriage wall, and a vertuin aipount of splash and

Chiu Ping Wong, who was one of those 187. The buildings of the old No.8 found dead among the debris of the Po Police Station were taken over by Gov Hing Fong collapse, and, whose case may ernment in 1800," be regarded as typical of that of all the 78 men, women and children who lost

on

RECOMMENDATIONS.

REBUILDING ON THE SITE.

ew" data

way of Hospital Road and the top of the new wall was left unsurfaced. During foam going up against the boarding of these operations & broad tree was left the tronches and into the trench at its along the north side of the new wall. On Eastern, end where was the gap in the the 24th of May, on the instructions of boarding to which have referred, but, one easier then in charge of the work I personally am satised on a general on the new Police Station, the stones of the top course of the wall at the Easter view of the evidence given and from

inspection of the ground that practically? end of this trench were removed all the water which went over the walk reason bus been given in evidence for or through the weepholes must have gone this action but the obvious effect was to down the trench into the Dismleching provide a safe way of escape on to the Station. Such water may therefore. I cement surfaced ground of the Disin think, he left out of account as a possikle fecting Station for part at least of the cause of the disaster. waters reaching this trench.

heavily

EFFECT OF RAIN WATER

PREVIOUS FLOODING.

their lives through this disaster. If you Mr. Creasy bas given exidence us to consider that death has been caused by the decision to revuld of the sne of gross or criminal negligence on the part av. Duon about December, 132 of any person or persons you must bring inspected the site carefully with in a verdict of manslaughter against the Lowic, now on teave, who was then in person or persons thus negligent. If on charge of the Arenitectural Department the other band, you consider that no one ey saw the cracks in the cast and has been guilty of grass negligence re- West retaining walls Buducented that sulting in death you must bring in athere was no sign of recent movement verdict of death by misadventure. Gross Jacy looked at all the waits. negligence in this connection implies was supplied as to wall No. 1. The re- reckless disregard of the consequences to building of the retaining walls was de I shall now consider the question of It has also been suggested that the human life which may result from the liberately considered tone unnecessary, water reaching the site of the old No. damage may have been done by flooding way in which actions otherwise lawful we have seen the pipe through the case & Station firstly by direct rainfall, and, of the site from Hospital Road in previous are performed. It is a personal matter, ut No. I wall at the caster end of im secondly, by coming over or through the heavy rains The top course of the For your guidance I bave handed to you Mi Lane, with its constant discharge of Hospital Road retaining wall, and the Eastern retaining wall was removed on already a memorandum containing ex- dear water. We have had the evidence possible effect of such water as a cause 24th May, 1825, and from that dates at tracts from Halsbury's Laws of England of Mr. Coysh, who as a Samtary Inspec- of the disaster. In March there was any rate the trench must have functionet"

the subject of what constitutes tor was Tormerly stationed in that dis total rainfall as registered at the Obser- as a way of escape for storm water con criminal engligence."

trict, that water used to leak from the vatory, Kowloon, of 94" of which 31 felling over or through the wall. By the base of No. 1 wall in wet weather, and on 26th and 27th. In April there was a same reasoning as before I therefore to ouze out of the grassy slopes in Blake total of 70" of which 3" fell on 1st and think that we may leave out of account. Gardens below. We have seen water on and. In May there was only a from this point of view the heavy rains Having carried out these duties im flowing cut from the base of other retain total of 96 with no heavy fall. In June of June and July up to the 16th as a poard on you by law, it is highly desiring walls in the neighbourhood. We have there was a total of 230 of which possible cause of the disaster." " able that you should go further and add the opinion of the experts, after the fell on 14th Jane, 41 on 15th June, and In this connection it is important to by way of rider to your verdict any com- event, that the original design of the wall on 24th June. In Joly up to the date bear in mind the evidence of Mr. Gold- ments or recommendations which in your No. 1 allowed too small a margin for of the disaster there was a total of 18-8" smith that up to a day or two before" opinion may be of assistance in prevent Stability!

of which fell on 11th, 21 on 14th the collapse there was a pile of debris ing the occurrence of similar disasters in

In view of all this it may be question July, 1:8 on 15th, 1:5" on 16th and 5 between the carriage way of Hospital future. By this means some good mayed whether danger should not have been between 1.30 am and 8.30 am, on the Road and the top of the new wall, which yet result from this disaster, and the time foreseen. It must, however, be remem hetween 15 and 9:30 on the 17th at lara harrier to prevent water from going 17th. The collapse took place sometime must, to some extent at least, have acted and thought which you have ungrudging-bered that there is no evidence of serious time when it was no longer raining over the wall. There was no heavy rain. ly devoted to this investigation may be flooding having occurred in the houses

Letween and April and 24th turned to the advantage of the com- or in im Mi Lane at the back of them. munity

It may be assumed that very little improbable that any serious There was a sewer running along and of the rainfall on the part of the site water went over in the beavy rain EXPERT WITNESSES,

under this lane, but we have had no in not within the area surrounded by the late March and early April, as this won dication that it was not functioning pro trenches could have soaked into the have interfered with the construct Before coming to the facts of the case perly. The cement surface of the lane ground, as outside this area the cement the wall then going on and 1 should like to refer to the position of showed a signs of sinking or buckling, covering of the site remained substan would have been taken to stop Col Russell Brown, D.S.O., and Mr. P The very fact that a constant spring tially intact K. Warren who bave given expert evid-ficwed from a pipe at the bottom of this But the rain within the trenched are carried away by the trench the ence and have also assisted throughout wall would naturally lead one to suppose coration or by soaking in. Evaporation time would render this a most unic

cannot have got away except by era the enquiry somewhat in the roll of that the problem of underground waters would be an important factor in showery Assessors. After consulting you and in had been considered and measures taken weather but could not be of much 70 accordance with the views put forward to deal with it at some previous date lative importance in times of heavy rain- on your behalf by your foreman, IAP probably when the wall was constructed. fall. proached the Colonial Secretary who at Ands regards the factor of safety, it You have the opinion of Mr. Warren been raised, namely the possible effect One other point in this confection has my request obtained the services of these two gentlemen, and I have no doubt seems to me hardly reasonable to expect based on considerations regarding the of water soaking down behind the new

that Mr. Cressy or Mr. Lawick should old natural surface of the ground and retaining wall of Hospital Road and go that you will agree that we are much indebted to them for their valuable assist have made fresh theoretical calculations the nature of the Elling behind walls: ance. I should like to emphasise that 28 to the design and stability of a wall 3 and 3, that any water which soaked ing below the foundations. This wall in which had been approved by their pre through these trenches must have came well provided with weepholes, and Mr. these gentlemen are in no sense Govern decessors, had stood nearly thirty years the upper part of wall z and that no construction has assured us that its foua- through the face of wall 3 and perhaps Goldsmith who was responsible for its ment witnesses. They have, as you are and was apparently still in good condi abstantial amount could have pene dations were laid on sound boulders with. aware; investigated the problems fromtion, and on which, if anything, the strain rated even to the bottom of wall No. 2 concrete between, and that in lus opin an unbiased and independent stand point was to be lessened.

bag which was considerably above the top nothing but a negligible quantity of water HISTORY OF THE SITE.

L

do not think that on the evidence of wall No. 1. Mr Warren has further from behind the wall could have perco- FORMAT Available before the collapse took place given his reasons, for holding that such latest through below the foundation I It may be well to review shortly the and the state of the subsoil at the base water could not have affected the stability think we may accept his opinión, history of this site as giren in evidence of No. 1 wall. was revealed, danger could of walls 2 and 3.firmed as it is by that of Col. Russell There were before the collapse three re-reasonably have been foreseen. The new Beference has been made to the fact Brown, a cerrect taining walls forming the northern sup-station was to be heavier than the old, that the site was not roofed over so I therefore think that we may slo port of the site of the old No. 8 Police and in order to avoid placing any la protect it front direct rainfall, bat Station. We have for convenience of additional strain on the retaining walls it does not seem

to expect chiminate from the possible cause of this reference called, these walls,

the effect of simface WALEE it was decided to place the new building that it should have been so protected: and 3 counting from the bottom upwards, further back so as to give an angle of or if the factor" Butety was so small reaching the site from Hospital Rond Between walls No. and 3 there was 45 from the toe of wall No. 1 to

That atability would be ected by direct during previous hervy rains.-

imprudent that it hooki never have been undertaken. Bück ikfrect rainfall whether

during the whole period from the begi aing of digging, when cons cause of the disaster,

even if some did go over and

PERCOLATION..... Cause of the disaster

collap

a ledge, and at the foot of No. 2, wall the north face of the station Taking Tainfall, then the whole eme" was so What

there was also ledge on which ran all things into account this decision taken a path with an iron railing on the lower in January, 1924, seems to have been on the might preceding the collapse or side Below, this railing there was a bath cautious and deliberate anal does not grassy slope so far as the top of wall suggest a reckless disregard of conse

Walls No. 2 and 3 appear to quences such a would support's charga have been built about the year 1800. The of manslaughter

Bred

in x bucket, mere dust in the scale

the

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