Man's Criticism of Hong Kong Fire Response Called 'Seditious'

Hong Kong's national security police have acknowledged the first arrest related to criticism of the Nov. 26 apartment fire that killed more than 150 people. A 71-year-old man is accused of stirring public resentment online following the Wang Fuk Court complex blaze—the city's deadliest fire in nearly eight decades. Arrested Saturday, the unnamed man allegedly posted "seditious" videos and incited hatred toward both the Hong Kong and Chinese governments, per the New York Times. Police say he was called in for questioning on Tuesday before he "recklessly publicized all of the contents" of that discussion on social media, thereby "tipping off" others involved in the probe.

Authorities also accuse the man of characterizing government actions as manipulative, and of wrongly suggesting China's assistance was merely performative. Officials note second-rate building materials likely contributed to the fire's rapid spread, fueling public outcry over regulatory oversight. There are also reports of inoperable fire alarms, per the AP. But China's national security office in Hong Kong has warned against using the fire to "sow social instability." The police say they are investigating other individuals linked to criticism of the fire, though they declined to confirm the reported arrests of a former district official and a university student who called for an independent investigation.