Following the devastating fire in Hong Kong, 24-year-old university student Guan Jingfeng (Miles Kwan), who initiated a petition for accountability, has been arrested by the Hong Kong Police's National Security Department. (Source: Threads @iamhkpeople1)
[People News] The fire at Hong Fu Court in Tai Po resulted in 151 fatalities. Despite the city being in mourning, the Hong Kong government chose to disregard the situation, leading to the arrest of Guan Jingfeng, who had called for accountability. Just before his arrest, he shared a poignant observation with AFP: "We must confront the reality; today's Hong Kong is deeply scarred, both inside and out."
Liberty Times reported that the arrested individual, Guan Jingfeng (Miles Kwan), is a 24-year-old university student. Following the fire, he formed the 'Tai Po Hong Fu Court Fire Concern Group' and distributed flyers in the streets while also launching an online petition. However, around 9 PM on the evening of the 29th, he was taken back to his home by personnel from the National Security Department for evidence collection and subsequently detained at the police station. An AFP reporter confirmed his arrest when he witnessed Guan Jingfeng leaving the Cheung Sha Wan Police Station on December 1.
Reports indicate that although Guan Jingfeng's online petition received over ten thousand signatures within a day, under Beijing's stringent surveillance, these dissenting voices and webpage links were swiftly "erased" following his arrest, as if they had never existed.
Before his arrest, Guan Jingfeng gave an interview to the media, expressing that his primary motivation for initiating the action was his anger towards Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-kee's comments that attributed the responsibility for the fire to the 'bamboo scaffolding'. He believed the government was trying to divert attention from its own regulatory failures. His 'four major demands' include: ongoing support for affected residents, the establishment of an independent investigation committee, a re-evaluation of the engineering regulatory system, and full accountability for regulatory negligence, holding government officials responsible.
Analysts have noted that phrases like 'establishing an independent investigation committee' and 'official accountability' closely mirror the demands made during the 2019 anti-extradition protests, which may have triggered sensitive reactions from both Beijing and the Hong Kong government.
Additionally, prior to his arrest, Guan Jingfeng was seen distributing flyers outside a train station, calling for an independent investigation into the fire. In an interview with Agence France-Presse, he mentioned that he was merely presenting 'very basic demands', but acknowledged that he could not foresee the consequences under the National Security Law. 'If these ideas are perceived as incitement or crossing the line, then I truly cannot predict the outcomes of anything, but I can only act on what I genuinely believe in.'
A long line of mourners gathered in a park near the fire site. A reporter discovered an unsigned handwritten note on the ground, which poignantly stated: 'This is not merely an accident; it is the result of an unjust system that has befallen you, and that is wrong.'
This note encapsulates the feelings of many Hong Kong residents: in a political environment devoid of regulation and accountability, this fire is regarded as a complete 'man-made disaster'.
Clearly, this tragedy has evoked not only sorrow among the citizens of Hong Kong but also anger towards the authoritarian regime of the Chinese Communist Party.
Reports suggest that Hong Kong has historically adhered to the traditions established during the British colonial era, where an independent judge leads a 'Commission of Inquiry' (COI) to conduct public investigations following significant disasters. However, this time, the Hong Kong government has only announced the formation of an inter-departmental working group. Lawyer Han (Imran Khan), who was involved in the investigation of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, candidly remarked that an internal investigation cannot uncover the truth, and the families of the victims will not trust it, stating, 'Without justice, they cannot truly move on from their grief.'
In light of Guan Jingfeng's arrest, commentator Cai Shenkun expressed on the X platform, 'In today's Hong Kong, even the investigation into the truth of a fire is being suppressed by national security! In today's Hong Kong, where is the sense of justice? In today's Hong Kong, it has been utterly destroyed by the National Security Law! Hong Kong is rapidly integrating with the mainland. Following the massive fire at Ju Fu Garden, even proposing four civil demands is viewed as 'anti-China and chaos in Hong Kong'! These four demands are entirely non-political, representing normal calls for investigation and accountability, yet they are still perceived by the National Security Office in Hong Kong as 'anti-China and chaos in Hong Kong.' Those attempting to downplay the fire should not act too hastily! John Lee has repeatedly expressed gratitude to Xi Jinping, primarily to safeguard his own position, as he is acutely aware that the role of Chief Executive is a gift from Xi, not a result of an election by the people of Hong Kong. Naturally, he is also trying to deflect blame; all the significant changes occurring in Hong Kong today are a result of Beijing's actions!'
User 'Qiao Zhifei' remarked, 'What once were deeply unsettling anxieties have now transformed into shocking realities; when even the investigation into the truth of a fire becomes a forbidden topic, society has lost its ability to distinguish right from wrong. A city that cannot hold anyone accountable will only see tragedies repeat endlessly. A place that does not allow questions will also not permit the truth to exist.'
User 'JAFA' added, 'Investigating the truth will reveal the evil forces behind the Chinese Communist Party. As long as the CCP remains, disasters will continue!' △
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