On December 26, a major fire broke out in the Homestead Estate in Taipo, Hong Kong, resulting in severe casualties. The fire engulfed seven high-rise residential buildings, claiming the lives of 151 people and leaving over 30 individuals missing, according to the latest report by the police on December 1.
A Hong Kong-based Australian political scientist and journalism educator, Lin Song, shared his account of the tragedy in an interview with Dajiyuan news. Lin mentioned that his dear friends were affected by the fire, with his friend’s wife tragically losing her life. He raised doubts about the official claims regarding the fire’s cause and criticized the authorities for attempting to divert attention towards the bamboo scaffolding, suggesting a shift towards a more mainland Chinese influence in Hong Kong.
Lin Song revealed that his retired civil servant friends, whom he knew from his high school days in Hong Kong, had been residents of Homestead Estate for many years. After the fire, he contacted his friends, who described smelling smoke like tear gas during the fire and then falling asleep amidst the chaos.
Following inquiries about the fire situation, Lin eventually learned that his friends, who were trapped in their home during the fire, waited for rescue by wetting towels and covering their faces and noses. His friend was rescued and hospitalized, but his wife succumbed to the fumes. The loss of communication with his friend’s wife led to the heartbreaking realization of her passing.
The Hong Kong government’s investigation revealed that the fire, the deadliest in at least 63 years, originated from low-level safety nets catching fire and spreading rapidly to neighboring buildings due to flammable materials like polystyrene sheets. The collapsing bamboo scaffolding also contributed to igniting other safety nets, spiraling the fire out of control.
Despite official claims of the fire’s cause being linked to the bamboo scaffolding, Lin Song dismissed these statements, emphasizing that bamboo is not easily flammable, unlike foam materials commonly used in construction.
Amid mounting public demands for accountability following the tragedy, a group of young Hong Kong residents formed the “Homestead Estate Fire Concern Group” to petition the government and police for a thorough investigation into the incident.
In response to the increasing calls for accountability, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began silencing dissenting voices, with the CCP’s Hong Kong Office issuing threats to crack down on those attempting to exploit the tragedy.
Lin Song highlighted the crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong, citing the arrest of a 24-year-old student, Miles Kwan, and the censorship of online petitions calling for an independent inquiry into the fire. The strong-arm tactics employed by the authorities point to a broader pattern of suppressing dissent and opposition to the government.
Notwithstanding the challenges posed by the current legal and political environment in Hong Kong, the public’s discontent with government inaction persists. Lin Song underscored the parallels between the CCP’s authoritarian control in mainland China and its increasing influence on Hong Kong, constraining freedom of expression and stifling dissent.
As Hong Kong faces a growing crackdown on dissent and political expression, the aftermath of the fire and the subsequent push for accountability have illuminated deep-seated frustrations within Hong Kong society. Despite the barriers to seeking justice and accountability, the resilience of Hong Kong citizens in demanding transparency and justice remains unwavering.