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Editorial | Hong Kong right to strike a balance on New Year’s celebrations
In the wake of the deadly fire, cancelling the fireworks display while going ahead with some events is sensible even as investigations into the tragedy continue
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The aftermath of Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades continues to unfold – with the widening of the net of arrests in connection with the Tai Po blaze and the cancellation of the city’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display. The city will live with the tragedy for a very long time.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has arrested the current and former chairmen of the Wang Fuk Court owners’ corporation as part of an investigation into renovation work linked to the fire in the residential estate, including the use of substandard materials.
This brings to 23 the number of suspects – including project consultants, contractors, scaffolding subcontractors and intermediaries – apprehended by the police and ICAC, with the corruption watchdog having made at least 14 of those arrests.
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News of the latest arrests broke on the same day that Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu returned from his annual duty visit to Beijing, during which he said President Xi Jinping had affirmed the government’s handling of the fire’s aftermath.
This included setting up an independent review committee to find the truth and pursue accountability. In that regard, Lee has pledged to embark on robust systematic reform.
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The latest arrests involving the owners’ corporation are part of a comprehensive investigation that has not yet led to any charges. They are another step in exploring every aspect of the tragedy, leaving no stone unturned, from renovation contract negotiations to execution of the work, and ensuring nothing like it happens again.
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