Rights group urges China, Hong Kong to respect press freedom after deadly fire News
Iflwlou, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Rights group urges China, Hong Kong to respect press freedom after deadly fire

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Monday urged Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to release news commentator Wong Kwok-ngon, to halt harassment of journalists, and to allow free coverage of the recent deadly apartment complex fire in Hong Kong.

The CPJ reports that the national security police arrested columnist and commentator Wong on December 6, accusing him of posting content provoking “hatred” with “seditious intention.” The arrest happened on the same day the Office for Safeguarding National Security warned foreign media not to spread “false information” or cross “red lines” when reporting on the fire. Those warned include the New York Times, Agence France-Presse and The Wall Street Journal.

CPJ Asia-Pacific director Beh Lih Yi stated:

The escalation in intimidation to silence the media is appalling and unacceptable. It is shameful that authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong are using national security as a pretext to harass journalists and to silence calls for accountability when the people of Hong Kong are mourning a tragedy.

The deadly fire in Hong Kong engulfed Wang Fuk Court Estate on November 26, tearing through seven high-rise towers and killing at least 159 people. The government-subsidized complex housed around  4,600 residents. Commentators have raised concerns over the cause of the fire, which some have linked to the ongoing construction activities on the buildings. Residents have raised concerns about contractors smoking around the scaffolding.

Hong Kong’s Labour Department has penalized the Prestige construction company at least 12 times for violations of industrial-safety ordinances. Authorities stated that parts of the debris-catching mesh and foam boards used to protect the windows failed to meet fire-safety standards and were “highly flammable.” They alleged that the contractors combined substandard and higher-quality materials to deceive inspectors.

Human Rights Watch has recommended that Hong Kong authorities create an independent commission to investigate the incident. This came as Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu pledged to establish an independent committee to conduct a comprehensive review to suggest reforms of the construction regulations and prevent similar tragedies in the future. Ka-chiu listed eight specific areas of inquiry and vowed to appoint a judge to lead the committee’s work, ensuring both independence and credibility. He further stated:

In order to avoid similar tragedies again, I will set up a judge-led independent committee to examine the reason behind the cause and rapid spreading [of the fire[… We must uncover the truth, ensure that justice is served, let the deceased rest in peace and provide comfort to the living… [W]e must act seriously to ensure that all the loopholes are plugged so that those who are responsible will be accountable.

Ka-chiu added that criminal proceedings will continue alongside this committee. Hong Kong police have so far arrested 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter and another 12 in corruption probes related to the fire.

 

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