HONG KONG — 1993 · Major Tragedy
The Lan Kwai Fong New Year Crush
On 1 January 1993, just after the new year began, a deadly crowd crush occurred in Lan Kwai Fong, the nightlife district in Hong Kong's Central area. As a crowd of around 20,000 spilled from bars and restaurants into narrow, steep streets, pushing broke out during the midnight celebrations. On a slope made slippery by sprayed beer and champagne, people fell on top of one another, especially at the stepped junction of Wellington Street and Wing Wah Lane. Twenty people died at the scene and one more in hospital four days later; 63 were injured. The government appointed High Court judge Kemal Bokhary to lead an inquiry, after which crowd-control measures became standard at major holidays and events in Hong Kong.
- Date
- 1993
- Place
- Central, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, HK
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 22.2810, 114.1550 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 31 December 1992Tens of thousands gathered in Lan Kwai Fong for New Year's Eve.
- 1 January 1993Just after midnight a crush occurred; 20 people died at the scene.
- January 1993One of the injured died in hospital, bringing the toll to 21.
- 1993An inquiry led by judge Kemal Bokhary recommended crowd-control measures.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Lan Kwai Fong en.wikipedia.org ↗
- The Standard — Tragic lessons left unlearned thestandard.com.hk ↗
- Wikipedia
- The Standard (Hong Kong)
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.