Today’s Focus: Mournful over the victims of the Hong Kong inferno, a red corruption network lurking behind the ashes; Suspicion arises over the government’s handling, is there something amiss? The “Care Team” takes charge, eradicating the conscience to catch volunteers! The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) media publishes “Eating Char Siu”! After three years of silence, images of the commander of the June 4th protest emerge.
On November 26, the most devastating fire in a century engulfed Hong Kong, with a five-alarm blaze at seven residential buildings in the Hung Fuk Estate in Tai Po, resulting in at least 151 fatalities, 79 injuries, dozens of bodies awaiting identification, and tens of people still missing. The death toll is expected to surpass the 1948 fire tragedy, becoming Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since 1918.
Amidst the spirit of mutual aid and resources in Hong Kong, the people were labeled as “illegal assembly, violent riots”; while the Hong Kong residents petitioned for the truth behind the fire, the CCP branded it as “disorder in aid of chaos”, with the PLA issuing intimidations to obey orders.
The Hong Kong inferno coinciding with the third anniversary of the White Paper Movement, with leaked footage of the trial of Xu Qinxian, the commander of the June 4th protests, presenting a challenge in interpretation.
The fire at Hung Fuk Estate in Tai Po shocked Hong Kong and the international community. Many were surprised that such a large-scale fire could happen in Hong Kong, and there was astonishment concerning the subsequent response of the authorities.
Many Taiwanese friends are puzzled and amazed at the discussions among Hong Kongers regarding the inadequate fire safety measures, whereas the government pointed fingers at bamboo scaffolding.
Questions for Lawyer Samp:
1. Please discuss the fire and its causes.
2. How do you view the initial responses of Hong Kong officials?
3. Reports suggest that the scaffolding company is from Shandong, China, and there are speculations about involvement by high-ranking CCP families?
Volunteers in Hong Kong spontaneously helped each other after the fire by passing on messages, showing concern, and donating supplies; however, they were reported for ‘illegal gatherings,’ and the CCP mouthpiece, Wen Wei Po, continued to spread negative propaganda about so-called ‘violent riots.’ Civilian supply stations were forced to clear out, and the government dispatched the so-called “Care Team.”
As civilians debate the causes of the fire, a third-year female university student shared relevant tender documents online. On the 28th, enthusiastic citizens formed the “Hung Fuk Estate Fire Concern Group,” putting forward the “Four Major Demands,” including advocating for an independent investigation. They quickly gained tens of thousands of signatures through leafleting at train stations and online, but to their surprise, the signature page vanished, and one of the initiators, Hong Kong Chinese University student Kuan Jing-fung, was arrested on the evening of the 29th by national security officials for alleged “incitement crimes” as he had previously spoken out on June 4th.
On the 29th, the National Security Office of the CCP in Hong Kong issued a statement calling the fire a “disruption of peace” and threatened severe punishment under the draconian national security law. On the 27th, the CCP Ministry of Defense stated that the PLA troops stationed in Hong Kong would “obey orders.”
Questions for Lawyer Samp:
1. What are your observations on this? How does this event affect the mentality of the people in Hong Kong?
2. There is suspicion among Hong Kong netizens that, following the anti-extradition protests and the imposition of the National Security Law, Hong Kongers said they could only be a model for Taiwan once; now they seem to be demonstrating a different perspective for Taiwan. What insight can you provide regarding this matter and its impact on Taiwanese society?
As the fire on November 26 continued to burn, many Taiwanese and Chinese around the world felt sad and followed the developments. Surprisingly, some claimed to be Taiwanese on the internet, describing it as a “101 fireworks show” and “Infinite City,” provoking public outrage, but were exposed as suspected Chinese netizens pretending to cause trouble.
With hundreds dead and over 200 still missing as firefighters continue the search, the People’s Daily, a CCP mouthpiece, released a video titled “Tonight, we eat Char Siu” on the early hours of Friday, the 28th, on the video platform “bilibili,” raising suspicions of mocking the fire victims with the iconic Hong Kong food “Char Siu.”
Questions for Lawyer Samp: How do you interpret the CCP’s manipulation of public opinion in this instance?
On the day before the Hong Kong fire on November 26, Wu Renhua, a survivor of the June 4th incident, released the complete footage of the trial of the “rebellious general” Xu Qinxian by the CCP Military Court in 1990 on the X social media platform, lasting over 6 hours.
For over thirty years, Hong Kong has commemorated the 1989 June 4th massacre; since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law in 2020, any commemoration of June 4th has become a criminal offense and refusal to forget could lead to suppression.
Question for Lawyer Samp:
On the third anniversary of the China White Paper Movement on November 26 and the eruption of a major fire in Hong Kong, how do you interpret the release of Xu Qinxian’s trial footage and who might be behind it?
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