HONG KONG, Nov 30 (Reuters) – Anger over a lethal blaze at a Hong Kong high-rise residence advanced simmered on Sunday as Beijing warned in opposition to makes an attempt to make use of the catastrophe to disrupt the town, whereas folks throughout the monetary hub continued to mourn for the greater than 128 victims.
Police on Saturday detained one one that was a part of a bunch that launched a petition demanding authorities accountability, an impartial probe into doable corruption, correct resettlement for residents, and a evaluation of building oversight, two sources aware of the matter mentioned.
College pupil Miles Kwan, 24, was arrested on suspicion of making an attempt to incite sedition in relation to the blaze within the Wang Fuk Court docket advanced within the northern Tai Po district, the South China Morning Submit reported. Hong Kong police didn’t reply on Sunday to a request for remark.
The net petition promoted by the group reached over 10,000 signatures by Saturday afternoon earlier than it was closed.
A second petition with the identical calls for has been launched by a Tai Po resident who’s now residing abroad.
“Hongkongers demand the truth and justice,” wrote KY within the remark part of the brand new on-line petition.
The blaze that ripped via seven high-rise residential blocks close to the border with mainland China has shocked Hong Kong and authorities have launched legal and corruption investigations as anger and dismay develop.
The reason for the blaze, which killed 128 folks and left 150 nonetheless lacking, continues to be to be decided.
Authorities are on tenterhooks to keep away from any broader public backlash after pro-democracy protests roiled the town in 2019, resulting in a Beijing-imposed nationwide safety legislation.
China’s nationwide safety authorities on Saturday warned people in opposition to utilizing the catastrophe to disrupt the town.
“We sternly warn the anti-China disruptors who attempt to ‘disrupt Hong Kong through disaster’. No matter what methods you use, you will certainly be held accountable and strictly punished under the Hong Kong national security law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.”
FIRE ALARMS NOT WORKING PROPERLY
Authorities have arrested 11 folks in reference to the town’s worst blaze in practically 80 years as they examine doable corruption and using unsafe supplies throughout renovations on the Wang Fuk Court docket advanced.
Rescue operations on the website concluded on Friday, although police say they could discover extra our bodies as they comb via the hazardous, burnt-out buildings in coming weeks.
Lots of of officers deployed to seek for stays discovered no additional our bodies however rescued three cats and a turtle, police officers advised a press convention.
The fireplace began on Wednesday afternoon and quickly engulfed seven of the eight 32-storey blocks on the advanced that had been wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and inexperienced mesh and layered with foam insulation for the renovations.
Donations have poured in from massive and small corporations in addition to different teams to help the victims.
Authorities have mentioned the fireplace alarms on the Wang Fuk Court docket property, house to over 4,600 folks, had not been working correctly.
The fireplace is Hong Kong’s deadliest since 1948, when 176 folks died in a warehouse blaze.
Residents of Wang Fuk Court docket had been advised by authorities final yr they confronted “relatively low fire risks” after complaining about fireplace hazards posed by the renovation, the town’s Labour Division mentioned.
The residents raised issues in September 2024, together with in regards to the potential flammability of the protecting inexperienced mesh contractors used to cowl the bamboo scaffolding, a division spokesperson mentioned. (Reporting by Jessie Pang, James Pomfret, Writing by Anne Marie Roantree; Modifying by Michael Perry)
