The driver, who was behind the wheel when a passenger coach flipped on its side killing 19 people and injured dozens last year, will spend 40 months in jail. He will also be disqualified from driving for three years.

But some of the dozens of people injured in the crash and others who lost family members said the court had treated 33-year-old Hung Ling-kwok lightly. They said Hung should be banned from driving for life.

Deputy district judge Anthony Kwok Kai-on said Hung deserved the current maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on the charge of dangerous driving causing death. However Hung's offence took place before the maximum penalty was doubled effective July 4 last year.

Hung was also given consideration because he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Evidence at the trial showed that Hung steered recklessly as he drove 61 passengers to Sai Kung on May 1 last year.

"This way of driving and the driving attitude were unimaginable and extremely irresponsible," Kwok said. "Although he was aware that the coach was carrying 61 passengers, he still ignored the risk and the attitude he used was no different from driving a private car. He did not consider passengers' safety and the accident has made a profound effect on the families of the deceased and the victims."

The court heard that the passengers were worshipers of the Japanese religious group Shinji Shumeikai, most of whom were elderly women.

On the way to Sai Kung from Fung Wong San Tsuen, Hung jumped a red light, according to testimony at the trial. Priscilia Lam Tsz-ying, Hung's barrister, said her client had not jumped a red light but had gone through a yellow light.

Another witness also told the court earlier that the low air pressure alarm was blinking and buzzing when the coach reached the Cheng Chek Chee Secondary School in Sai Kung.

Some passengers smelled something burning when the coach was speeding down a slope, the court heard.

A witness testified earlier that she had asked Hung three times to slow down and had even told him to stop the coach, but Hung had ignored her.

The coach finally flipped on its side and rammed into a noise barrier when traveling at 67 km/h, 17km/h over the limit, at Nam Pin Wai roundabout, the court heard.

After the accident, Hung told the police that the brakes failed. Kwok said road signs show clearly that drivers should use low gear when driving in that slope of Hiram's Highway, but Hung ignored the sign and relied on his foot brake to slow down the coach, leading to the failure of the brake system.

Kwok described Hung's conduct as "unforgivable".

Leung Chun-shing, 18, was left blinded in his right eye by the accident. He said his elder sister was killed and his mother has had emotional problems ever since.

He said he considered the sentencing too light. "It cannot soothe our soul at all. When he is let free three years and four months later, he can (apply to) drive again and get more people hurt," he said.

Leung also thought it is unfair that the maximum jail for Hung is limited to five years. The amendment to the law was enacted two months after the accident. "My life has been ruined. He should have been disqualified from driving lifelong," he said.

Another victim agreed with Leung and said she has had nightmares and a phobia about automobiles since the accident.

(HK Edition 06/20/2009 page4)