Public anger is mounting in Hong Kong following a devastating high-rise fire that killed at least 128 people, as authorities warn against using the tragedy to challenge the government. Mourning for the victims of the blaze at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po continues across the city, with 150 people still missing.
In response to the disaster, citizens launched an online petition demanding government accountability, an independent probe into possible corruption, proper resettlement for displaced residents, and a review of construction oversight. The petition gathered over 10,000 signatures before it was closed. Police have since detained one of the organizers, 24-year-old university student Miles Kwan, on suspicion of inciting sedition. A second petition with the same demands has been started by a resident now living overseas.
The arrest follows a stern warning from China’s national security authorities, who cautioned against attempts to “disrupt Hong Kong through disaster” and stated that any such efforts would be strictly punished under the city’s national security laws.
Meanwhile, authorities are conducting criminal and corruption investigations into the fire, which is the city’s deadliest since 1948. Eleven people have been arrested in connection with the blaze, with the probe focusing on potential corruption and the use of unsafe materials during renovations at the complex.
The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon and spread rapidly through seven of the eight 32-story residential blocks, which were covered in bamboo scaffolding, mesh, and foam insulation. Officials have confirmed that the fire alarms at the estate, home to over 4,600 people, were not working properly.
Last year, the city’s Labour Department told Wang Fuk Court residents they faced “relatively low fire risks” after they complained about hazards posed by the renovation. The residents had raised specific concerns in September 2024 about the potential flammability of the protective mesh covering the scaffolding.
Official rescue operations concluded on Friday, though police say more bodies may be found as they search the hazardous, burnt-out buildings. Donations from companies and community groups have poured in to support the victims.
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