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Hong Kong’s national security police arrested a man on Saturday in the first publicly confirmed arrest related to his criticism of authorities over a high-rise apartment fire that killed at least 159 people.
Police He said he has been accused of posting “information with seditious intent” on social media.
“It mainly consisted of materials (aimed at) inciting hatred (towards) hong kong Government and the central government,” Chief Superintendent of Police National Security Department Steve Lee told reporters.
“For example, they pointed to the Hong Kong and central governments as instigators exploiting the tragedy to create chaos and turmoil,” he said. “This is an absolutely impossible thing.”
Local media previously reported other arrests but authorities have not confirmed them.
The fire at the Wang Phuc Court housing complex on 26 November has sparked debate about government accountability.
Officials have warned against attempts to use fire to undermine local government or the central government. Beijingis part of hong kong China But, like nearby Macau, it has its own legal system and laws. Both are former European colonies that were returned to China in the late 1990s.
Police said the man was also arrested on suspicion of disclosing information related to a national security investigation, possibly with intent to influence the investigation.
According to the police, on 2 December he was asked to come to the police station to assist in the national security investigation. “But the next day, we learned that she had shamelessly released all (or) some of those details on social media, despite warnings not to disclose the information publicly.”
He said authorities believe the 71-year-old man was attempting to inform on others involved in the case.
The initial cause of last month’s fire was unknown, but the government said it would form an independent committee to investigate the cause.
Authorities have arrested at least 21 people as authorities investigate suspected corruption and negligence over a major renovation project that was taking place at the housing complex before the fire.
Substandard green netting on the scaffolding encircling the buildings, as well as foam boards installed on the windows of the buildings, have been identified as one of the main reasons for the rapid spread of the fire in seven of the eight residential towers of the complex. Some fire alarms were also found not working.
Last weekend, an organizer of a petition demanding government accountability over the fire was arrested by national security police on suspicion of treason, local media including HK01 and Sing Tao Daily reported.
Li did not confirm or deny any other arrests, but said authorities had seen a lot of fake information about the fire, which he believed was aimed at inciting hatred against Hong Kong and Beijing.
Lee also said some people were attempting to incite conflict by distributing leaflets and shouting slogans near the site of the fire, which resembled scenes from the massive anti-government protests in Hong Kong in 2019.
The protests led to a crackdown that has effectively quelled political dissent in the city. There are no opposition candidates in legislative elections on Sunday, with all of them being vetted to ensure they are loyal to Beijing.
john leeHong Kong’s leader has warned that authorities will take action against those who take advantage of the tragedy.
“I will do everything possible to ensure justice for anyone who tries to harm the society’s commitment,” he said.