Widespread anger is boiling over in Hong Kong as the city struggles to come to terms with its deadliest fire in more than 70 years. The inferno, which tore through seven of the eight high-rise apartment buildings in Wang Fuk Court residential compound, has left hundreds missing and the death toll rising.
The cause of the fire remains a mystery, but one thing is clear: it has tapped into the deep-seated social anxiety about affordable housing that plagues Hong Kong. The city's sky-high property prices have led to tightly packed high-rise apartments that can become death traps when disaster strikes. For many, bamboo scaffolding - which was widely used in construction before being phased out by the government due to concerns over fire safety - has become a scapegoat.
The issue is becoming increasingly politicized, with some Hongkongers accusing the government of deflecting responsibility from the actual cause of the fire. The Labour Department had previously assured residents that bamboo scaffolding posed little risk of ignition, but many now question whether this was just a cover-up.
As the investigation into the fire heats up, concerns are growing about the independence of Hong Kong's judiciary. Traditionally, the city has held open inquiries into major tragedies, often led by an independent judge. However, with Beijing's tightening grip on power in Hong Kong, many experts believe that this is no longer possible.
The government has pledged HK$300m (£29.2m) to help residents affected by the fire, but some are demanding more action - and a full inquiry into what went wrong. The city's leader, John Lee, is under pressure to explain why the bamboo scaffolding was allowed to remain standing during the construction works.
The fire has also sparked fears about the upcoming Legislative Council elections, which are scheduled for December 7. Many worry that Beijing will use the disaster as a pretext to silence opposition and maintain its stranglehold on power in Hong Kong.
The cause of the fire remains a mystery, but one thing is clear: it has tapped into the deep-seated social anxiety about affordable housing that plagues Hong Kong. The city's sky-high property prices have led to tightly packed high-rise apartments that can become death traps when disaster strikes. For many, bamboo scaffolding - which was widely used in construction before being phased out by the government due to concerns over fire safety - has become a scapegoat.
The issue is becoming increasingly politicized, with some Hongkongers accusing the government of deflecting responsibility from the actual cause of the fire. The Labour Department had previously assured residents that bamboo scaffolding posed little risk of ignition, but many now question whether this was just a cover-up.
As the investigation into the fire heats up, concerns are growing about the independence of Hong Kong's judiciary. Traditionally, the city has held open inquiries into major tragedies, often led by an independent judge. However, with Beijing's tightening grip on power in Hong Kong, many experts believe that this is no longer possible.
The government has pledged HK$300m (£29.2m) to help residents affected by the fire, but some are demanding more action - and a full inquiry into what went wrong. The city's leader, John Lee, is under pressure to explain why the bamboo scaffolding was allowed to remain standing during the construction works.
The fire has also sparked fears about the upcoming Legislative Council elections, which are scheduled for December 7. Many worry that Beijing will use the disaster as a pretext to silence opposition and maintain its stranglehold on power in Hong Kong.
The situation in Hong Kong is just heartbreaking 
. I mean, can you imagine living in an apartment building where one wrong move could be the difference between life and death? 
It's like they're saying 'good luck' to their residents 
. And now, people are blaming the government for not doing enough to address the affordable housing crisis 
. I get it, the bamboo scaffolding was a safety concern 
, but did it have to be left up for so long? 
. If Beijing can just use something like this to silence opposition and maintain control, then what's the point of even having elections? 
I'm all for finding out what went wrong and taking responsibility, but it feels like we're being told 'don't worry' when really, we should be asking some tough questions 
.
. We can't just keep passing the buck and expecting residents to deal with this on their own 
. And as for the judiciary, it's like they're saying 'we'll get to that eventually' 
. Newsflash: we need answers now 
!
. The fact that bamboo scaffolding was allowed to remain standing despite previous assurances from the Labour Department is just another example of how the government is more concerned with maintaining its reputation than with public safety 
.
.
. We need to hold our leaders accountable & ensure that there are free & fair elections where all voices can be heard 
. It's time for real change in Hong Kong! 
Can't believe the government is trying to shift blame from substandard construction materials to bamboo scaffolding 
.
I'm literally shook by this news... Fire deaths over 70 yrs is crazy! Did u know? 
. The city's population density is insane at 6,677 ppl/sq km 
. Did u know? 
60% of HK residents rent their homes, with many forced to choose between paying rent or living expenses 
. When we're talking about issues that affect our daily lives, like housing or safety, we want experts who are gonna give it to us straight, not sugarcoat things to make everyone happy.
The tragedy unfolding in Wang Fuk Court is a harsh reminder of how quickly our so-called 'safety nets' can fail us when it comes to affordable housing 
. We should be demanding more transparency, more accountability, and more action – not just some token payout or a half-hearted inquiry 