Plastic surgeon killed in Wan Chai accident

Well-known plastic surgeon Wilson Ho Wai-sun and a mainland woman were killed in an accident in Wan Chai late Sunday when the taxi they were in collided with a double-decker bus.

The 33-year-old taxi driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death. She is suspected of running a red light, sources said, with the police slamming her for irresponsible driving.

The accident happened around 9.30 pm while the taxi, traveling along Fleming Road, collided with a Citybus double-decker, which wasn't servicing a route, when it reached the junction at Harbour Road.

The two passengers - a 59-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman - were trapped in the taxi before passers-by pulled them out unconscious and suffering from head injuries.

Sources identified the man as Ho. He was rushed to Queen Mary Hospital but was declared dead at 11.18pm.

The mainlander was sent to Ruttonjee Hospital and declared dead at 10.08pm.

The taxi driver was also sent to Ruttonjee with minor hand injuries before being transferred to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital.

She was still being held for investigations, while the 30-year-old Citybus driver, who was not arrested, assisted in investigations.

In a statement, Citybus said the bus was passing through the intersection of Harbour and Fleming roads in accordance with traffic signals at the time.

"Citybus is deeply saddened and extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. We will fully cooperate with police investigation," it said.

The police said a special investigation team from Hong Kong Island traffic is investigating, and appealed to anyone who witnessed the accident to contact police officers.

The police "strongly condemns the irresponsible driving of the driver. It not only jeopardizes the safety of other road users and threatens one's personal safety, but is also the actual cause of a serious accident."

Ho, a member of the Hong Kong Association of Cosmetic Surgery, ran a clinic in Central and had also penned articles for newspapers. He operated on six students who were injured in the 1996 Pat Sin Leng wildfire.

In 2013, Ho was slapped with a suspended sentence for professional misconduct in trying to ramp up his business through advertisements.

Association president Anna Wong Wai-man said the association was shocked and saddened by Ho's death and would support his family members.

Association member Wong Wai-hong said Ho, whom he had known for decades, was a "gentleman."

"[The death of Ho] has deprived Hong Kong of an excellent doctor and the association of a good leader," he said.

Ho's family members are understood to be on their way back to Hong Kong.