Hong Kong Police Arrest 13 Following Deadly Apartment Fires,Sparking Fears of Political Crackdown
HONG KONG – Hong Kong police have arrested 13 individuals on suspicion of manslaughter related to a recent series of devastating apartment fires,as authorities simultaneously move to suppress public discussion and community-led aid efforts,raising concerns about escalating political control. The arrests, announced Saturday, come amid warnings from national security authorities against inciting “anti-china” sentiment following the blazes.
The fires, which have gripped the city in grief and anger, have prompted an outpouring of support from residents, with volunteers rapidly organizing donations of essential supplies for victims. However, authorities quickly intervened, taking control of aid distribution from civilian organizers and deploying armed police to patrol affected areas.
One arrest involved Kwan Chak-ho, a social worker, who was detained in connection with an online petition calling for an investigation into building safety and government response to the fires. The petition’s “four demands” mirrored language used during the 2019 pro-democracy protests, though it did not explicitly call for political change.
“If these ideas are deemed seditious or ‘crossing the line’, then I feel I can’t predict the consequences of anything any more, and I can only do what I truly believe,” Kwan told media before his arrest.
Commentators have drawn parallels to mainland China, where dissent is often suppressed under the guise of maintaining “stability.” “The mainland calls these crimes ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” one commenter noted, “It’s usually punished with heavy sentences. Stability trumps everything.” Another expressed concern that the arrests signaled a shift towards prioritizing control over addressing legitimate public concerns: “Now that we are aligning with mainland China’s approach, by dealing with the person who raises the question, no one will dare to ask questions, and thus Hong Kong’s governance will have no problems.”
The arrests occurred even as the remains of victims were still within the affected buildings.
Since the suppression of the 2019 protests, civilian gatherings in Hong Kong have been tightly controlled. The Guardian reported witnessing the swift mobilization of volunteer support in Tai Po following the fires,reminiscent of the scale of organization seen during the protest movement.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not released further details regarding the specific allegations against those arrested.
Additional reporting by Lillian Yang and agencies
