Hong Kong's Major Fire Deals a Blow to the Hong Kong Government and Beijing

The fire in Hong Kong is now under control, but the extent of the disaster is shocking. (Video Screenshot)

[People News] The contractor responsible for the facade renovation of Hong Kong's Hong Fu Court is a notorious, unscrupulous businessman with a long history of illegal activities. It is shocking that such a lawless entity could be awarded such a significant project, with costs exceeding the market price by double! Even more astonishing is that Hong Ye Construction still has thirteen major projects in Hong Kong, which is quite unusual. The collusion between unscrupulous businessmen and government officials must be thoroughly investigated. Furthermore, the owners' committee of Hong Fu Court, controlled by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), ultimately selected the most expensive contractor, disregarding the safety concerns raised by residents. The decision-making process exhibits clear illegal behaviour, and the Hong Kong government must take action.

Hong Ye Construction has repeatedly asserted that the large quantities of materials used comply with safety standards. However, following the incident, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-Keung stated that firefighters discovered that the protective nets, protective films, waterproof tapes, and plastic sheets on the building's facade did not meet safety standards. The materials were supplied by a company from Shandong, mainland China. The legality of the import and distribution of these materials, as well as any corrupt dealings with the contractor, should not be overlooked.

Officials from various government departments received letters from citizens and professionals prior to the incident, raising concerns about the fire safety issues related to the renovation project. The officials claimed that everything complied with regulations and that the risks were minimal. Whether this was a deliberate concealment or negligence should be thoroughly investigated. The Labour Department claimed to have conducted sixteen inspections at Hong Fu Court without identifying any highly hazardous conditions, such as scaffolding nets and foam sealing windows. Who is responsible?

In 2025, several fires broke out in Hong Kong involving bamboo scaffolding and protective nets on building exteriors. Notable incidents occurred at the Central Huamao Building, the Hong Kong Housing Society's Kai Tak Coordination Road site, the University of Hong Kong's West Campus dormitory site, and the Deku Road site, among others. The Hong Kong government failed to take these similar incidents seriously and did not conduct a thorough investigation of comparable projects. It was only after the tragic fire at Hong Fu Court, which resulted in significant casualties, that Chief Executive Li Jiachao ordered a comprehensive investigation in haste.

The fire at Hong Fu Court has resulted in over a hundred deaths, with nearly 300 individuals reported missing, and the casualty figures are expected to rise dramatically. On November 27, the Ministry of National Defence of the Communist Party of China made a rare statement regarding this man-made disaster, stressing that the People's Liberation Army stationed in Hong Kong would 'act upon orders and fulfil their duties according to the law.' This firm declaration comes amid dual political pressures in Hong Kong from the upcoming Legislative Council elections and the verdict in the case of Jimmy Lai. Beijing is deeply concerned that this disaster, which affects people's livelihoods, could undermine the credibility of the 'patriots governing Hong Kong' policy.

Typically, fire rescue operations fall under the jurisdiction of the Special Administrative Region government, and the stationed troops do not intervene unless requested by the Hong Kong government. The Ministry of National Defence of the Communist Party of China proactively mentioned 'acting upon orders' and 'fulfilling duties' at the earliest opportunity. While this may appear to be a commitment to disaster relief, it also sends a political message of 'strong stability maintenance' to the outside world, ensuring that Hong Kong remains under tight control during times of unrest.

In an effort to prevent public discontent from growing, Chief Executive Li Jiachao held a press conference, and just three hours later, the police announced the arrest of three executives from Hongye Construction Company, accusing them of serious negligence. The Hong Kong government and Beijing quickly shifted the blame onto the builders to demonstrate their commitment to accountability, redirecting public anger towards 'man-made disasters' and the failings of individual companies. This strategy aims to create a firewall that prevents doubts from spreading to the regulatory framework of the SAR government, thereby protecting the political narrative of 'governance leading to prosperity.' Since 2019, Beijing has been keen to show that its iron-fisted approach to governing Hong Kong is more effective than previous methods. This tragic fire, which revealed the city's vulnerabilities, has undoubtedly struck a significant blow to both the Hong Kong government and Beijing! △