A massive fire in a Hong Kong apartment complex, which has killed at least 83 people and left nearly 300 missing, is the biggest test yet of Beijing's ability to control a city it completely reshaped after massive pro-democracy protests in 2019.
As part of sweeping legislative changes, pro-democracy voices and other critics have been silenced and elections limited to “patriotic” candidates, with the next vote for the legislative council scheduled for December 7.
The fire broke out as Hong Kong prepares to sentence media tycoon Jimmy Lai, the most prominent of hundreds of pro-democracy activists facing long prison sentences on charges of endangering national security and participating in protests.
“I think Beijing is placing a huge emphasis on how to deal with this tragedy first? And then, will we see a change in the public’s perception of the Hong Kong government?” said Sonny Lo, a political scientist who has written several books on Hong Kong politics.
The leadership of the Hong Kong government and the Communist Party of China reacted quickly to show that the tragedy was a priority, and police targeted the construction company in charge of the renovation, Reuters reported.
Analysts say Hong Kong's skyrocketing property prices have long been a trigger for discontent, and the tragedy could fuel anger toward the authorities despite their efforts to tighten political and security controls.
From faulty fire alarms to workers smoking cigarettes and the risks associated with traditional bamboo scaffolding, many residents are wondering whether the risks are being ignored and whether safety systems are even in place and functional.
As they took shelter in temporary shelters, some criticized what they saw as negligence and austerity as the causes of the fire, which they also cited in comments online.
At around 22pm on Wednesday evening, as the fire was still burning, Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing called for "maximum efforts" to put out the fire and minimize casualties and damage, state media reported.
Xi "expressed condolences to the families of the victims and those affected by the disaster" and "stressed that he attaches great importance to this incident, and immediately requested updated information on rescue efforts and the number of victims."
Four hours later, Hong Kong leader John Lee held a news conference after touring shelters for fire survivors. About 4.600 people live in the eight towers of the apartment complex, seven of which were engulfed in flames.
“The priority is to put out the fire and rescue the trapped residents,” Li said. “The second is to provide support to the injured. The third is treatment and recovery. Then we will launch a thorough investigation.”
However, at 5.54am, just three hours after Li's press conference and before the fire was extinguished, police revealed the cause of its spread and announced that three officials from the construction company had been arrested.
Police said the towers were covered with protective nets and plastic sheeting that may not have met fire safety standards, and that some windows on one unaffected building were sealed with foam material installed by a construction company in charge of maintenance.
"We have reason to believe that the responsible persons at the company showed gross negligence, which led to this incident and allowed the fire to spread uncontrollably, with serious consequences," said Ailin Chung of the Hong Kong police.
Three men from the construction firm, two directors and an engineering consultant, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the fire, she added.
Last night, the area around the apartment complex was still packed with people - emergency responders, onlookers, neighbors, victims and their families. Outside the building where the bodies were identified, people were leaving, sobbing, holding each other. Some had blankets draped over their heads to avoid the cameras.
Although the protests in Hong Kong are now relatively firmly under control, a wide range of online forums are still available and are likely to provide an early barometer of public sentiment.
Analysts say public anger and concern could spread beyond construction companies to government institutions responsible for fire safety and building regulations, and that pressure is likely to grow for comprehensive and transparent investigations into what actually happened.
Traditionally, Hong Kong authorities have launched public inquiries into major tragedies, often led by an independent judge.
For example, after a fire in a commercial building in Kowloon in 1996, which killed 41 people, a commission of inquiry was formed. This investigation led to new laws and regulations on building and fire safety.
But that may no longer be enough.
“I believe we need to seriously review fire safety and construction site safety across the industry, including government oversight,” said Chau Sze Kit, president of the Hong Kong Construction Workers’ General Union.
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