Hong Kong arrests two over calls for accountability after fire that killed 146 amid tighter stability measures

Hong Kong authorities have arrested two more people in connection with public responses to the city’s deadliest fire in nearly eight decades. The move follows growing calls for transparency and accountability after the Wang Fuk Court blaze, which killed at least 146 people on 26 November, 2025.

According to local media including HK01, the arrests were carried out by the Police National Security Department on 30 November.

Those detained include former district councillor Cheung Kam-hung and a female volunteer who had assisted at the fire site.

Reports stated that Cheung was arrested at around 7 pm at his residence in Fanling.

HK01 reported that he is suspected of “inciting hatred against the government”.

The volunteer, surnamed Li, was also taken into custody for allegedly urging disaster victims not to give personal information to unknown individuals.

Police earlier arrested another man on 29 November on suspicion of “inciting unrest” after he launched an online petition calling for government follow-up actions.

According to HK01, his petition page was later removed.

The police stated they would “take actions according to actual circumstances and in accordance with the law”.

Social media activity showed that Cheung had still been posting at around 6.30 pm on the night of his arrest.

His posts included a news item about Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki and another about the arrest of the earlier petitioner.

Both were reposts without added commentary.

The arrests took place as public frustration mounts over government oversight failures related to the fire.

The blaze spread rapidly when netting around bamboo scaffolding ignited flammable foam boards at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang said the intense heat caused burning bamboo to fall and spread the flames across the eight-tower estate.

Regulators had issued repeated warnings to the contractor responsible for renovation works, including one week before the fire, the Labour Department said. Hong Kong’s anti-graft agency has since arrested 11 individuals linked to the renovation project.

The government is simultaneously preparing for legislative elections scheduled for 7 December, with campaigning resuming on 4 December. The last polls in 2021, held under the “patriots-only” electoral framework introduced by Beijing, saw record-low turnout.

Public anger over the fire has led to widespread online petitions.

One garnered more than 10,000 signatures before being removed. Its four demands included support for affected residents, a review of construction supervision systems, an independent commission of inquiry, and accountability from government officials.

An Instagram group titled “Tai Po Wang Fuk Court Fire Concern Group” was created on 28 November to raise similar demands but has since been taken down.

On 29 November, the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government issued a statement supporting Hong Kong’s actions against what it called “anti-China and pro-chaos elements”.

It accused some individuals of exploiting the disaster to “incite confrontation and tear society apart”.

Nathan Law, a former legislator now overseas, criticised the arrest of the initial petitioner as “outrageous”, saying the person had made “basic demands for transparency and accountability”.

Government relief measures continue, including financial support for families of the deceased and survivors.

Chief Executive John Lee announced initial compensation of HK$10,000 (S$1,663) per family, followed by an additional HK$50,000 (S$8,316) living allowance.

Temporary housing has been arranged for displaced residents, with 1,800 transitional units allocated—roughly matching the estate’s total housing stock. Officials have also pledged free housing until homes are rebuilt.

The Housing Authority said six of the eight towers at Wang Fuk Court have been inspected and pose no immediate danger. Authorities warned that the death toll may continue to rise, and at least 79 people were reported injured.

Hong Kong began three days of mourning on 29 November. A memorial ceremony was led by Chief Executive Lee, and condolence points were set up across all 18 districts.