Arrest over petition stirs public debate

[ad_1] <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/a8f8/live/c37547d0-d0fa-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/a8f8/live/c37547d0-d0fa-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a8f8/live/c37547d0-d0fa-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/a8f8/live/c37547d0-d0fa-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/a8f8/live/c37547d0-d0fa-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/a8f8/live/c37547d0-d0fa-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/a8f8/live/c37547d0-d0fa-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a8f8/live/c37547d0-d0fa-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images A bouquet of flowers is seen in front of the Wang Fuk Court in the aftermath of the deadly fire in Hong Kong's Tai Po district" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Photos The devastating Tai Po hearth has sparked an outpouring of grief and anger in Hong Kong

When college scholar Miles Kwan launched a petition demanding solutions from Hong Kong authorities after one of many metropolis's deadliest fires final week, he was arrested.

The ferocious blaze had ravaged a densely populated housing property within the northern Tai Po district, killing no less than 159 individuals and displacing 1000's.

As public anger grew, the pro-Beijing authorities warned, repeatedly, in opposition to makes an attempt to "exploit" the fireplace to "endanger nationwide safety".

Kwan was reportedly arrested by Hong Kong nationwide safety police on suspicion of sedition. He's now on bail, in accordance with native media.

Police informed the BBC that it "would deal with any motion taken in accordance with the regulation and the precise circumstances".

There was additionally a robust public response to the arrest. To some, the choice to arrest him was "baffling". To others, it was merely Beijing's playbook, replicated. The Hong Kong authorities says that it is about making an attempt to guard rule of regulation in a testing second for the town.

'A human response to tragedy'

Ronny Tong, a member of Hong Kong's Govt Council, disputed the suggestion that Hong Kongers are being suppressed. "The federal government is making an attempt to be prudent," he tells the BBC.

Regina Ip, one other Hong Kong lawmaker, additionally defended the arrests. Authorities are being "additional cautious" that public anger doesn't led to a "recurrence of the 2019 riots", she informed the BBC's Newshour radio programme.

Among the many questions within the petition and being requested by many Hong Kongers embrace how the blaze may have swept by means of the buildings so quickly and whether or not any authorities officers ought to be held accountable.

"It's a must to differentiate real expressions of opinion from petitions with felony intent. That's what our courts should discover out," Ip added.

Kwan's petition, which listed "4 calls for" - echoing the "5 calls for, not one much less" slogan that rallied protesters in 2019 - gathered greater than 10,000 signatures in lower than a day earlier than it was taken down.

Days later, the town's chief John Lee mentioned Hong Kong would "go all out" to help victims and examine the blaze.

He anounced numerous actions such because the convening of an independent committee to research the fireplace, a overview of the constructing works system, and momentary lodging and monetary support to victims.

Many of those had been what individuals had been calling for already - they usually additionally fashioned part of Kwan's petition.

"It is baffling how Miles was [arrested] for asking fundamental questions on behalf of many residents, which the federal government went on to handle anyway," mentioned Samuel Chu, a pro-democracy activist who reposted Kwan's petition on a separate platform.

"This isn't a political marketing campaign. It is a human response to the tragedy," he mentioned.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/a29d/live/6c38b5f0-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/a29d/live/6c38b5f0-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a29d/live/6c38b5f0-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/a29d/live/6c38b5f0-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/a29d/live/6c38b5f0-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/a29d/live/6c38b5f0-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/a29d/live/6c38b5f0-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a29d/live/6c38b5f0-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images A group of Muslim women look visibly distraught during an official mourning event for the victims of the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Photos Among the many questions residents need answered embrace whether or not any authorities officers ought to be held accountable

Up to now week, authorities have additionally arrested 15 individuals on suspicion of manslaughter and ordered the removal of mesh netting from all buildings present process renovations after investigators discovered that the one wrapped across the charred advanced didn't meet flame retardant requirements.

Individually, one girl has been arrested for making an attempt to profiteer from the disaster utilizing a faux fundraising marketing campaign.

China's nationwide safety workplace in Hong Kong swung into motion swiftly after final week's catastrophe, warning that it could take motion in opposition to anybody making an attempt to instigate "black terror" - a phrase Beijing had used to explain the 2019 protests.

In a extra strongly-worded assertion this week, it vowed to punish "hostile international forces... irrespective of how distant" they could be.

Lee, Hong Kong's chief govt, mentioned he would "guarantee justice is [served]" to anybody who tries to "sabotage" reduction efforts.

Former district councillor Kenneth Cheung, who was amongst these arrested reportedly by nationwide safety police, says authorities took problem with content material he re-shared on Fb following the fireplace.

"The Tai Po hearth is a tragedy that considerations everybody in Hong Kong. Many, no matter their political loyalties, need the culprits to be held accountable," says the 50-year-old, who's out on bail however has had his passport impounded.

"Not all the things is about politics," Cheung says.

Hong Kong authorities are coping with this catastrophe utilizing Beijing's playbook , which focuses on social management and regime safety, alleges Kenneth Chan, a politics professor on the Hong Kong Baptist College.

He notes how authorities have over the weekend displaced community-led reduction initiatives with teams backed by the federal government.

"Officers is not going to embrace the spontaneity of those grassroots efforts as a result of they need management," he alleges.

On social media in HK feedback piled in responding to the arrest. Most of them sad over the arrests and the federal government response.

"Demanding the reality is taken into account incitement?" one such remark mentioned.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/c816/live/bbb70d70-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/c816/live/bbb70d70-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/c816/live/bbb70d70-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/c816/live/bbb70d70-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/c816/live/bbb70d70-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/c816/live/bbb70d70-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/c816/live/bbb70d70-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/c816/live/bbb70d70-d0fb-11f0-8c18-0d5a89857094.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images John Lee, Hong Kong's chief executive, standing at the podium during a news conference on the fire" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Photos John Lee says Hong Kong will "guarantee justice is [served]" to anybody who tries to "sabotage" reduction efforts

Requested at a information convention earlier this week why he deserves to maintain his job following the fireplace, John Lee sidestepped the query and as a substitute pledged to take to job "anyone who dares to sabotage" reduction efforts.

No authorities official has but resigned nor been arrested over the fireplace. The 15 individuals arrested on suspicion of manslaughter are bosses or employees of building corporations, whereas one other six detained are hearth tools contractors.

Some residents have additionally criticised the choice to proceed with a Legislative Council election, at a time when the town is in mourning. Solely pro-Beijing "patriots" are allowed to contest within the ballot which might be held on Sunday.

The problem nonetheless, is continuous to dominate dialogue in any respect ranges.

Some Legislative Council members made a request for an emergency debate to debate the fireplace and publish catastrophe reduction work, however this was refused, with the federal government saying it could preserve its give attention to the difficulty of the fireplace itself.

In a press release to reporters Lee mentioned, "Sure, it's a tragedy; it's a massive hearth. Sure, we want a reform. Sure, we've recognized failures in numerous levels. That's precisely why we should act severely to make sure that all these loopholes are plugged... to make sure that such issues is not going to occur once more."

(5 December 2025): This text and headline had been up to date so as to add extra exact attribution over the premise of arrests and that Kwan is now out on bail, embrace a police response to the BBC and add extra context about public and authorities response.