Hong Kong is facing its deadliest fire in more than 75 years, with the death toll surpassing 150 and dozens still missing after a catastrophic blaze tore through multiple residential towers at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po. As grief turns to anger, Beijing has issued a sweeping warning that it will use Hong Kong’s national security law to crack down on any protests, framing calls for accountability as potential “anti-China” activity.
The fire spread rapidly through bamboo scaffolding wrapped in highly flammable green mesh and foam insulation—materials residents had already warned authorities about months earlier. Critics say the tragedy exposes major regulatory failures, ignored safety complaints, and a lack of oversight over construction practices. Fire alarms in the complex, home to more than 4,600 people, were later found to be malfunctioning.
Public outrage intensified over the weekend as mourners gathered at the site, prompting national security authorities to warn against any return to the “chaos” of the 2019 protests. Police have already arrested multiple people demanding transparency and accountability, including university student Miles Kwan, former district councillor Kenneth Cheung, and volunteers assisting on-site. An online petition calling for an independent investigation reached over 10,000 signatures before being shut down.
Beijing says national security laws will be used to punish anyone who attempts to “disrupt Hong Kong through disaster,” underscoring growing fears that legitimate public anger may be met with further repression. With legislative elections approaching on December 7 under the “patriots-only” system, the tragedy has become a major test of the authorities' ability to manage public grief while suppressing dissent. Many residents say the fire is not just a devastating accident but the product of deep systemic failures—one message left at the memorial reads: “This is the evil fruit of an unjust system.”
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