Hong Kong arrests 13 on suspicion of manslaughter over apartment fires

Hong Kong has arrested 13 individuals on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with last week's devastating apartment fire, which killed 151 people and left many more missing. The arrests were made under national security laws, sparking widespread criticism from residents who feel that officials are prioritizing national security over accountability.

The fire at the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po was caused by a combination of safety violations, including lax enforcement of standards and alleged past safety issues by the construction company working on the site. The incident has raised questions about the government's handling of safety regulations and its response to public concerns.

Two civilians, Miles Kwan and Kenneth Cheung, have been arrested for allegedly violating national security laws by calling for accountability and support for the victims. Kwan was seen leaving a police station on Monday, while Cheung was arrested on Sunday evening. The arrests have sparked widespread criticism, with many expressing concern that officials are using national security laws to silence critics.

The incident has also raised questions about the government's willingness to hold those responsible accountable for the tragedy. While 13 individuals have been arrested, some residents feel that no one should be above the law, particularly when it comes to safety regulations and public concerns.

The arrests follow warnings from national security authorities that they would crack down on anyone deemed to be using the incident to incite anti-China sentiment. However, many are arguing that this is not about preventing incitement, but rather about silencing critics of the government's handling of the disaster.

In recent years, Hong Kong has seen a rise in tensions between the government and citizens, particularly over issues related to safety regulations and national security. The arrest of these 13 individuals on suspicion of manslaughter has only added to these tensions, highlighting the need for greater accountability and transparency from those in power.

The situation remains fluid, with many still missing and the death toll expected to rise further as rescue efforts continue. As the investigation unfolds, it is clear that Hong Kong's residents are demanding greater answers about what went wrong and who is held accountable for this tragedy.

13 people arrested under national security laws for calling for accountability vs 151 dead & many missing

This is just devastating I mean, 151 people lost their lives in an apartment fire because of safety violations? It's like, how could this have happened?! The fact that officials are prioritizing national security over accountability is just plain wrong . These 13 arrested people, they're not inciting anything, they're just speaking out for justice and support for the victims. It's like, can't we have a conversation about safety regulations without being intimidated? The government needs to do better than this . We need answers, we need transparency, and we need accountability . This is not just about Hong Kong, it's about human rights too .

This is a total disaster . I mean, 151 people dead? It's like they're just trying to sweep everything under the rug and avoid taking responsibility. And now these two guys get arrested for speaking out? That's not freedom of speech, that's government overreach . What's next? Silencing everyone who wants answers about what went wrong?

And don't even get me started on the national security laws being used to silence critics. It's like they're trying to create a culture of fear where no one dares to speak up. That's not how democracy works, folks. We need transparency and accountability, not secrecy and oppression.

I'm also worried about the safety regulations here. If they can't even enforce those properly, what's to stop something like this from happening again? It's a ticking time bomb . I just want to see some real action taken to fix these problems and ensure that something like this never happens again.

I'm absolutely gutted by these arrests . It's like they're trying to sweep this under the rug instead of letting accountability shine a light on all the safety issues that led to this disaster . I mean, 151 people lost their lives, and now we're seeing civilians being silenced for speaking out? That's just not right . What message does that send to the public? That if you speak up about safety concerns or government accountability, you'll be met with national security laws rather than a real investigation .

I'm also worried that this incident will become a huge 'what-if' scenario in our minds - what if we'd spoken up sooner? What if we'd pushed harder for change? . It's like the government is trying to erase the public's voice, and that's not okay at all . We need transparency, not secrecy! We need answers, not silence .

can't believe they're arresting ppl just 4 expressin concerns over safety & accountability it's like they're more worried about silencing critics than makin sure justice is served the fact that ppl r gettin arrested under national security laws is just ridiculous, it's like they're tryin to use that as a way 2 stifle free speech and honestly, I think we r seein a clear pattern of gov't playin it safe & avoidin accountability

OMG, 151 people dead? It's just so senseless... I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that those 2 guys got arrested for calling out the gov't's handling of the disaster... I get it, national security laws can be a mess, but can't we just talk about what went wrong here without someone getting locked up? It feels like they're more worried about being seen as "soft" on China than actually making things right. The gov't needs to step up their game and provide some real answers to the people...

It's really concerning when national security laws are used to silence critics, especially in a situation like this where people are still missing and grieving . The arrests of Miles Kwan and Kenneth Cheung are not only unfair but also unhelpful - they're basically telling people that if you speak out against the government's handling of the disaster, you'll be punished for it .

It's also pretty suspicious that these two guys were arrested for calling for accountability and support for the victims, without any concrete evidence to back up the allegations. It feels like a classic case of silencing dissenting voices . The fact that 13 individuals have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter doesn't seem like enough - it's just a drop in the ocean compared to the number of people who need answers about what happened and how we can prevent similar tragedies in the future .

I'm also worried about the message this sends to Hong Kong's residents. If they feel that they're being punished for speaking out, it's going to be even harder for them to demand accountability from their government . We need to make sure that everyone is held accountable, especially when it comes to safety regulations and public concerns .

Overall, this whole situation feels like a huge mess, and I don't think anyone has any good answers just yet .

Ugh, this is so messed up ! The government is totally overstepping its bounds by using national security laws to silence critics of their handling of the disaster. Like, if you're going to make changes, own up to them and be transparent about it, don't just use fear tactics to shut people down #AccountabilityMatters #TransparencyIsKey

And what's with these arrests? 13 people, many innocent bystanders who just want answers, and they're being held accountable for speaking out? It's like the government is trying to sweep this under the rug and forget about the root causes of the fire #JusticeForTheVictims #NotSilencingCritics

This is exactly what happens when you prioritize national security over people's lives and safety #SafetyFirst #PeopleOverPolitics

We need more accountability and less silence from our leaders, especially after a tragedy like this #RespectTheDead #RespectTheirRights

The whole thing just feels so fishy to me... Like, they're arresting people for speaking out against the gov't's handling of the disaster? That's not how you build trust, fam . And 13 arrests is a pretty low number considering 151 lives were lost . I mean, where are all these other responsible adults? The gov't needs to step up and hold those in charge accountable for this tragedy, not just some civilians who dare to question what went wrong .

The recent arrests in Hong Kong have really got under my skin. I think it's appalling that the authorities are using national security laws to silence critics, when what's really needed is transparency and accountability. It's one thing to investigate safety regulations, but another thing entirely to use the justice system as a means of silencing people who are genuinely concerned about the well-being of their community. The fact that 13 individuals have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter while others face prosecution for expressing dissenting views raises serious questions about the limits of free speech in Hong Kong. We need to see a more nuanced approach to this, one that balances national security concerns with the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. It's time for the government to take responsibility for its actions and provide some real answers about what went wrong at Wang Fuk Court.

Man... can you believe what's going on in HK? Those 13 arrests are a total joke! Like, what's next? Silencing people for complaining about traffic jams? The government's being super sketchy with the whole national security thing. It's like they're trying to cover their own behinds instead of taking responsibility for that fire tragedy.

And those two civilians, Kwan and Cheung, getting arrested for just expressing their concerns? Unbelievable! I mean, I get it, the government's trying to maintain some sorta image, but come on... accountability is what matters here. If you're gonna pass laws, enforce 'em, you know? Can't have people just sitting back and letting things slide because of national security drama.

It's like, every year there's a new disaster or whatever, the government's all "oh no, we'll fix it, we'll learn from it"... but then they don't. It's always the same old thing: blame, cover-up, and silence anyone who dares to speak up. I'm seriously getting worried about what's gonna happen next in that city...

I'm shocked by these arrests, they're just soooo suspicious . Like, shouldn't we be focusing on finding out what really caused the fire and making sure it doesn't happen again? Instead of silencing people who are trying to hold those in power accountable . It's like the government is more worried about covering their own backs than actually helping the victims or their families . And can we talk about how messed up it is that two innocent civilians got arrested for just trying to express themselves? Free speech is, like, soooo important . We need to stand together and demand more transparency and accountability from our leaders .

think this whole thing is super messed up 13 arrests under national security laws? That's not accountability, that's intimidation . I mean, the fire was caused by safety violations and construction company issues... what about holding those in charge accountable for that?

draw a diagram of a person with a megaphone on one side and a gavel on the other
the government needs to be transparent about their actions and decisions, not just use national security laws as an excuse to silence critics .

and yeah, the situation is super fluid ... but I think we need more than just arrests to bring justice to the victims' families .

I'm not surprised by the arrests, but at the same time, I am really disappointed. I mean, 151 people lost their lives in that fire and now these two guys are being arrested? It's just too much. The government needs to focus on holding those responsible for the safety issues accountable, not using national security laws to silence critics.

It's like, we get it, there was a fire and some people died, but that doesn't mean we can't have a conversation about how this happened and who's to blame. I think the authorities are just trying to shut down any discussion that might lead to "anti-China sentiment", which is just not fair.

I also worry that this sets a bad precedent for the rest of us. If you speak out against something, even if it's just a safety concern, you could be arrested? That's not how democracy works, right?

[Image of a person trapped in a burning building with the caption "when u try to report safety issues but they arrest you instead "]

I'm so shocked by these arrests , I mean, 151 people lost their lives in that fire and now these two civilians are being arrested for speaking out about it? It just doesn't add up. They're not inciting anyone to violence, they're just trying to hold the government accountable for their role in this tragedy.

It's like they're saying, "We need to know what happened here, we need to know who was responsible." And then suddenly national security laws come into play? It's just not right. I mean, safety regulations are a huge part of public health and safety, and if people can't speak out about them without fear of retribution, that's not okay.

And let's be real, this is all about silencing critics and maintaining power. The government doesn't want to take any responsibility for their handling of the disaster, so they're using national security laws to shut down anyone who tries to question them. It's like they're saying, "We can do whatever we want and you can't say anything." That's not democracy, that's authoritarianism.

I'm just so frustrated by this situation . The people of Hong Kong deserve better than this. They deserve answers, transparency, and accountability from their government. Anything less is just unacceptable.

I'm really concerned about the arrests in Hong Kong. It's like they're trying to sweep everything under the rug . 151 people lost their lives and many more are still missing, and instead of getting answers, these 2 guys get arrested? It's not right . National security laws are being used to silence critics, but shouldn't we be able to speak out about our concerns without fear of retribution? It's like they're more worried about their reputation than about making sure justice is served . We need to keep pushing for transparency and accountability from the government ️.

Those national security laws are seriously overstepping their mark here... silencing people who just want accountability? It's like they're trying to cover up the obvious oversights that led to all those deaths . And now these 13 arrests are sparking even more outrage, which is exactly what the government doesn't need right now . The real question is, where's the accountability for the company responsible for the fire? That's the one who really needs to be held accountable... not just some people calling out for justice

I'm shocked they're arresting people for just speaking out about the fire . I mean, shouldn't they be praising these guys for trying to hold the government accountable? It's like they're using national security laws to shut down dissenting voices . And what's with all these arrests under safety regulations? Shouldn't they be working on fixing those issues instead of silencing critics? The people are already traumatized by this disaster, and now the government is just adding more stress by not being transparent about it . We need answers, not silence!