The top Chinese Communist Party official for Hong Kong accused individuals with “ulterior motives” today of using the Wang Fuk residential complex fire—the deadliest in Hong Kong since 1948—to incite social unrest.
The fire, which broke out on November 26, caused the deaths of 168 people and devastated seven of the eight buildings in the public housing complex in the Tai Po area, which housed more than 4,600 people.
“Following the fire in Tai Po, people with ulterior motives politicized the tragedy in an attempt to sow chaos in the city,” lamented the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, under the jurisdiction of the State Council, the Chinese executive.
“This reminds us, once again, that Hong Kong still faces various risks and challenges on its journey toward stability and prosperity,” said Xia Baolong.
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In a speech broadcast at the opening of National Security Education Day, Xia urged Hong Kong residents to remain vigilant against risks to China.
“Having security at a given moment does not mean permanent security. Current stability also does not guarantee future security,” the leader warned.
At the same ceremony, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, promised that respect for human rights would not be affected by the defense of national security.
John Lee also stated that he will punish those responsible for the Tai Po fire and implement broad reforms based on the findings of an independent commission of inquiry.
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On Tuesday, the region’s judiciary sentenced Raymond Chong Wai-man, 61, to one year in prison for social media posts suggesting that the Tai Po fire could trigger a new wave of protests similar to those in 2019.
A government bill proposing extradition to mainland China triggered protests with millions of participants, culminating in demands for universal suffrage.
The demonstrations, which were sometimes violent, ended with Beijing’s imposition of a national security law that carries a life sentence.
“If this fire triggers another political resistance campaign similar in scale to the movement against the extradition bill, the Communist Party certainly will not dare to carry out a massacre like last time,” Raymond Chong wrote.
The retiree added that U.S. President Donald Trump could punish the Chinese Central Government in the event of a crackdown on a new wave of large-scale protests in Hong Kong.
Prosecutors in the former British colony stated that Chong’s posts incited hatred toward local and Beijing authorities.
