[People News] The Hung Fook Court fire was a man-made disaster—this is already a consensus across society. Mainland authorities and the Hong Kong government have pushed the blame onto bamboo scaffolding. Is there a problem with bamboo scaffolding? Of course not! Look across Hong Kong—from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon to the New Territories—commercial and residential high-rises stand in dense rows. Which of them was not built and repaired using bamboo scaffolding? If bamboo scaffolding were a fire hazard, Hong Kong would have burned down long ago—why wait until today? This is simply common sense. If the government does not lack common sense, then it must have ulterior motives.

After the fire broke out, the blaze was fierce, yet when it was extinguished, the bamboo scaffolding remained; it was the netting and foam materials that burned away completely. These are simple, physical facts—why say more? Mainland state media blamed the bamboo scaffolding for the fire’s cause early on, and the Hong Kong government parroted the narrative. The purpose is only to reduce the culpability of the Shandong netting supplier and minimize negative impressions of the mainland.

This fire further demonstrates that John Lee and his team of Hong Kong officials are steeped in CCP party culture. They repeatedly thank Xi Jinping—this is not said for Xi Jinping’s ears, but for Hong Kong people’s. By constantly repeating it, they aim to brainwash the public so that Hong Kong people will feel even more “grateful” to Xi Jinping. Of course Xi knows John Lee must thank him—because John Lee’s position as Chief Executive was given to him by Xi Jinping.

After the fire was brought under control, John Lee led his subordinates up to the rooftop of a nearby building. A subordinate held a sheet of paper while John Lee pointed this way and that, solemnly “directing” the rescue effort. This kind of deliberately staged on-site performance is a standard practice in mainland officialdom, and John Lee has learned it well.

The fire was already extinguished—what were you directing? If you wanted to direct, you should have gone at the early stage of the fire. At that time you could have understood the emergency firsthand, acted according to circumstances, and mobilized manpower and resources—all of which fall squarely within the responsibilities of the Chief Executive. When the fire was raging and residents were in mortal danger, you stayed in your office holding a five-hour meeting. Why didn’t you go to the scene then?

There are countless matters now, but at least two are urgent and important: the urgent task is saving lives and caring for survivors; the important task is long-term support and finding the truth.

Rescuing the injured is the responsibility of hospitals. Comforting grieving families, arranging temporary housing, supporting their daily lives, and ensuring sufficient aid in their work and routines should be coordinated by the government and supported by society. The goal should be to help victims maintain the minimum level of normal life and avoid adding further suffering to their tragedy.

After insurance claims are settled, how to help victims resolve their long-term housing problems is something the government should address by breaking conventions and providing exceptional support. In this disaster, beyond the criminal responsibility of unscrupulous businesses, government departments clearly made administrative mistakes that they cannot shirk. The victims’ suffering was entirely caused by corrupt businesses and the government. Thus the government should proactively provide more manpower and resources.

Where does the government’s money come from? From every Hong Kong taxpayer. Who pays government officials’ salaries? Not the government, but Hong Kong taxpayers. If Hong Kong taxpayers are willing to pay to help their fellow citizens, the government has no reason to block it. All those grand plans—the Greater Bay Area, the Northern Metropolis—should be set aside. First take care of your own people.

As for uncovering the truth, some citizens have already提出 four demands, the most critical of which is to establish an independent investigation committee. The root causes of this tragedy boil down to two “big heads” and one “small head”: the big heads are unscrupulous businesses and officials; the small head is the arsonist. Because government officials are involved, the investigation absolutely cannot be carried out by the government. An independent investigation committee must be established to examine every detail openly, fairly, and justly, until the full truth is revealed.

How to form an independent investigation committee should be decided through public discussion. It is even hard to say whether current judges are truly independent. As for legislators and prominent public figures, in recent years they have been accustomed to acting according to the wishes of the CCP and the Hong Kong government. How can their independence be guaranteed? This is a major problem.

Most importantly, the independent investigation committee must include representatives of the Hung Fook Court victims. They have the greatest right to examine the causes and disaster details, and they are the most qualified to raise questions about the truth. In addition, the committee should include representatives of firefighters, who personally witnessed the facts during the rescue effort—this is the most direct evidence.

For fairness, I believe the committee should hire a foreign judge as chairperson. Only a neutral authority completely detached from Hong Kong’s local interests and relationships can shoulder such a heavy responsibility.

After the incident, the government allocated 300 million HKD, which is a drop in the bucket. Fortunately, many citizens and commercial institutions have generously donated, and donations continue to grow. Recently, even overseas organizations and mainland residents have organized fundraising. How this money reaches the account, how it is disclosed, how it is managed, and how it is used are all major issues.

In my view, the government should first open a dedicated bank account. All donations—domestic or overseas, regardless of origin or amount—should first be deposited there. Then an independent fund management body should be established. Donors give from kindness, but precautions are needed to prevent unscrupulous businesses from inflating numbers for publicity. Ultimately, the actual received amounts must be publicly disclosed. As for donations from mainland residents, the money may well be pocketed midway by corrupt officials of various ranks—something beyond our control.

Donations from all sectors must not fall into government hands, because the public cannot know on whom the government will spend the money—whether it will divert the funds for propaganda or hand them to its associates. The most reliable way is to establish an independent fund managed by an independent committee.

This independent fund management committee should also include representatives of Hung Fook Court residents. Only they truly know victims’ immediate and long-term needs—what is more urgent, what is less so. They have the greatest say. Whether for the independent investigation committee or the fund management committee, resident representatives should be elected by all Hung Fook Court residents, not appointed by the government.

A disaster of this magnitude has struck Hong Kong. Regardless of how much direct responsibility the government bears, John Lee bears responsibility for dereliction of duty. In mainland officialdom, if a province has an accident with more than 30 deaths, the provincial party secretary must step down. Will Xi Jinping hold John Lee accountable? Should John Lee resign voluntarily to answer to the public? Hong Kong people must continue pressing this question.

Suffering Hong Kong—politically trampled by the CCP, economically exploited by the CCP. They claim “from stability to prosperity,” yet so many die. One can’t help but curse: “Prosperity, my foot!”

(The author’s Facebook) △