Hong Kong man arrested after posting online about deadly fire
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It is the first arrest that the national security police have confirmed in relation to the Nov 26 fire.
PHOTO: AFP
David Pierson
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HONG KONG – The Hong Kong national security police arrested a 71-year-old man on Dec 6, accusing him of publishing videos with “seditious intention” online and inciting hatred of the government in the wake of an apartment complex fire that killed at least 159 people
It is the first arrest that the national security police have confirmed in relation to the Nov 26 fire, as part of what critics say is a wider crackdown on public demands for greater accountability from the government.
The blaze was the deadliest fire in Hong Kong
Officials have said that sub-standard construction materials likely contributed to the spread of the fire, raising questions about the city’s oversight of its building industry and whether warnings had been ignored.
Police, who did not identify the man they arrested, said that he had been called in for questioning on Dec 2 as part of a national security investigation, which typically comes with strict non-disclosure rules.
The police said that he had “recklessly publicised all of the contents” of that discussion, including on social media.
In doing so, it had the effect of “tipping off” other people involved in the investigation, said Mr Steve Li, chief superintendent of the National Security Department of the Hong Kong police.
The man was also suspected of posting multiple videos with “seditious” intent to provoke “hatred” toward the governments in China and Hong Kong as well as the judiciary in Hong Kong, the authorities said.
Mr Li said the man had accused the governments in China and Hong Kong of being “instigators that used the fire to create chaos within Hong Kong”.
He said the man also described China’s support for Hong Kong after the fire as “only a form of show”.
“This is also clearly a lie and an act of sedition,” Mr Li said.
The authorities declined to confirm at least two other arrests by national security police.
Beijing’s national security office in Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous city, has also issued statements warning “anti-China” forces not to exploit the fire to sow social instability.
On Dec 6, it summoned representatives and journalists from some foreign media organisations, including The New York Times, to warn them about coverage of the fire and legislative elections that were being held on Dec 7
