The hearing of the Hongkong in-into the death of Kwok Mun, of the many lives as a it of an explosion on the Osaka n Kaisha steam launch concluded on July 15 before Mr. W. Schofield (Coroner) when the special jury. comprising Messrs. L. C. F. Bellamy (Foreman) M. H. Lo and W. T. Stanton delivered their verdict.
Mr. O. E. C. Morton held a watching brief on behalf of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Ca. Ltd., while Mr. J. T. Prior represented the OSK. Insp. Hopkins, assisted by Det-Sergt. Estall, were present on behalf of the police.
The verdict of the jury was that the cause of the explosion was due to the sed strip with which the boiler was repaired in 1934, This failure was due to the fatigue crack which would not be apparent at the half-yearly inspection. It could only be ascertained by cutting a piece of the boilei and submitting it to tensile te Whether the piece of steel forming e strip was or was not up to standard the jury could not s The jury added: "We are satisfied ith the evidence and that no boiler steel in the future is to be accepted unless it is tested by the Board of Trade or satisfies the Government Marine Surveyor, after the safety valve has been set at the working assure."
We also suggest for the consider: tion of the Government the desirability of introducing legislation along the lines of the Explosion Act of 1882, such as the present unfortunate one, would be undertaken by experts.
The jury commended the coxswain of the Dojima Maru for the work he cid in rendering assistance to the injured on the pier.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.