Hong Kong authorities have charged 13 people with manslaughter. This comes after an equally terrible fire at the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po, which has quickly become the deadliest fire in the city in the last 75 years. This month, that tragedy took 151 lives. Rescue operations are ongoing and about 40 people are still missing.
The Wang Fuk Court estate, with almost 5,000 residents, was in the midst of major renovations when the fire started. Investigations point to the extensive renovations as contributing factors in the disaster. During a legislative meeting on September 27th, Hong Kong’s Chief Secretary Eric Chan announced this shocking finding. Seven of the 20 samples of mesh netting wrapped around scaffolding on residential towers were below fire-retardant standards. According to reports, the substandard netting was intentionally installed in difficult-to-reach locations so it couldn’t be seen.
In the wake of the tragedy, city and state authorities have announced a wide-ranging investigation into the fire’s cause. To this end, they are focusing on potential involuntary manslaughter charges. This is a serious matter that the government is responding to. To their credit, they quickly brought in arrests of the construction company’s directors and the engineering consultant’s responsibility.
“They just wanted to make money at the expense of people’s lives.” – Eric Chan
As the community answered collectively to heal and take action after the fire, local officials were on the defensive. Miles Kwan, a 21-year-old student from Hong Kong, was arrested on Saturday. He had started an e-petition to call for more support for victims and punishment for those responsible for the disaster. Kwan argued that he was asking for the very minimum and that he was simply trying to achieve fairness.
“If these ideas are deemed seditious or ‘crossing the line’, then I feel I can’t predict the consequences of anything anymore, and I can only do what I truly believe.” – Miles Kwan
The arrests have drawn withering criticism. National security officials are reportedly alarmed about any efforts to use the tragedy to fuel anti-China sentiment. Kenneth Cheung, a former district councillor, was arrested on Sunday evening in this related crackdown. Stronger than the above sign, the government’s moves point to a deeper plan to keep the public uproar from escalating.
As these investigations continue, the questions of who is accountable and what safety standards should be in place are urgently important. Police Commissioner Chris Tang reiterated the importance of using proportionate measures and police response according to the situation.
“Therefore, we must take appropriate measures, including law enforcement measures,” – Chris Tang
For national security reasons, the operational details of the investigation remain under law enforcement’s control. The impact on our democracy, good governance and public trust is enormous.
Feedback heard from different stakeholders like advocates, state and local agency officials, etc. indicate an increasing demand for transparency and accountability from government. As one commenter noticed, what the mainland calls “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” These charges frequently lead to draconian punishments.
“The mainland calls these crimes ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” – One commenter
Chang’s tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court was more than a disaster – it ignited crucial dialogue. Today, travelers are debating the importance of safety regulations, corporate responsibility, and the line between governance and civil liberties in Hong Kong.