Man arrested for alleged sedition in Hong Kong amid warning over fire rumours
Office for Safeguarding National Security also issues statement warning of ‘anti-China’ individuals seeking to disrupt city
Hong Kong’s national security police have arrested a man on suspicion of trying to incite sedition in relation to the deadly blaze in Tai Po, the Post has learned.
The move on Saturday came as the central government’s national security authorities in Hong Kong warned against “anti-China and ill-intentioned individuals” exploiting the tragedy in an attempt to disrupt the city.
A source earlier said a man, identified as “Miles”, had been taken to a police station for questioning. It remains unclear whether that man had been arrested.
It was reported that a person called Miles Kwan and a group of unidentified others had set up the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court Fire Concern Group, which launched the petition calling on the government to address four demands in the aftermath of the inferno at the residential complex that killed at least 128 people.
It calls for providing support for affected residents, examining the system for supervising construction work, setting up an independent commission of inquiry and pursuing accountability while holding government officials responsible.