A major fire broke out in several high-rise apartment buildings in Hung Fuk Court, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, resulting in at least 65 deaths and nearly 300 people still missing. This devastating fire has become the biggest test of Beijing's ability to control Hong Kong since the 2019"anti-extradition" pro-democracy movement.
Reuters reports that the Tai Po fire occurred just before Hong Kong's Legislative Council elections on July 7th. However, under the massive legislative reforms, pro-democracy and dissident candidates have been silenced, with only"patriotic" candidates allowed to run. In addition, the Hong Kong courts will also deliver their verdict on media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who is currently imprisoned.
Political scientist Lu Zhaoxing, who has authored numerous books on Hong Kong politics, stated:"I believe Beijing is taking two questions very seriously: First, how will the government handle this tragedy? Second, will the public's perception of the Hong Kong government change?"
He pointed out: "The government has done a good job in terms of national security, but national security also includes the aspect of personal safety."
Both the Hong Kong government and the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party acted swiftly to demonstrate the high importance they attached to the fire, and the police have identified the engineering company responsible for repairing the exterior of the Hung Fook Court building at the time of the incident.
Analysts say that Hong Kong’s high housing prices have long been a source of public discontent, and despite the government’s efforts to strengthen control over the political and national security spheres, the fire may fuel public discontent with the authorities.
From malfunctioning fire alarms and maintenance workers smoking on construction sites to the dangers of using traditional bamboo scaffolding (eagle frames) for construction, many residents question whether these risks are being ignored and whether the fire safety system is properly installed and functioning.
Many disaster victims are currently staying in temporary shelters set up by the government, and some of them have criticized negligence and cost-cutting as the cause of the fire. Similar comments have also appeared online.
Despite Hong Kong's relatively strict control over protest activities, the public still has access to a variety of online forums, which may serve as initial indicators of social sentiment.
Analysts noted that public anger and concern may extend beyond engineering companies and could spread to government fire and building regulatory agencies, potentially increasing pressure to conduct a full and open investigation.
The Hong Kong government traditionally conducts open investigations into large-scale incidents, usually presided over by an independent judge.
Chow Sze-kit, chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry General Union, said:"I believe we must seriously review the fire safety and construction site safety management of the entire industry, including government oversight."
