Hong Kong’s national security police arrested a man in the first publicly confirmed arrest relating to criticism of authorities over a deadly fire.
Firefighters try to extinguish a flames engulfing a building after a fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a residential estate in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong's New Territories, Wednesday, Nov. 26 2025.
Hong Kong’s national security police arrested a man on Saturday in the first publicly confirmed arrest relating to criticism of authorities overFirefighters try to extinguish a fire which broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a residential estate in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong's New Territories, Wednesday, Nov. 26 2025. "That mainly included incite hatred among toward the Hong Kong government and the central government,” Steve Li, who is the chief superintendent of the police National Security Department, told reporters. “For example, he pointed to the Hong Kong and the central governments as instigators of exploiting the tragedy to cause chaos and turmoil,” he said. “That’s something totally impossible.”The fire, which broke out on November 26 at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, has prompted a debate about government accountability. Authorities have warned against attempts to use the fire to try to undermine the local government or the central government in Beijing. Hong Kong is part of China but, like nearby Macao, has its own legal system and laws. Both are former European colonies that were returned to China in the late 1990s. Police said the man had also been arrested on suspicion of disclosing information related to a national security probe, possibly with the intent of prejudicing the investigation. On Tuesday, he was asked to come to a police station to assist with a national security investigation, according to police. “But on the following day, we discovered that he had brazenly released all some of those details on social media,” said Li, despite being warned not to disclose the information publicly. Li said officials believed the 71-year-old man was attempting to tip off others involved in the case. Flames engulf a building after a fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a residential estate in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong's New Territories, Wednesday, Nov. 26 2025. The initial cause of the blaze was unknown, but the government said it would set up an independent committee to probe the cause. At least 21 people were arrested by authorities as officials investigate suspected corruption and negligence over a major renovation project that had been taking place at the housing complex before the fire broke out. Substandard green netting covering the scaffolding that enveloped the buildings, as well as foam boards installed on windows of the buildings, have been identified as amongto seven of the eight residential towers in the complex. Some fire alarms were also found to be not working. Last weekend, the organizer of a petition calling for government accountability over the fire was arrested by national security police on suspicion of sedition, local media including HK01 and Sing Tao Daily reported. Li did not confirm nor deny any other arrests but said officials had spotted a lot of fake information about the fire that they believed was intended in part to incite hatred against Hong Kong and Beijing. Li also said that some people were attempting to provoke conflict by distributing pamphlets and putting up slogans near the scene of the fire, which he said resembled scenes from massive anti-government protests in Hong Kong in 2019. The protests led to a crackdown that has effectively silenced political dissent in the city. There are no opposition candidates in a legislative election on Sunday, with all those running vetted to ensure they are loyal to Beijing.“For anybody who tries to sabotage the commitment of society, I will do all I can to ensure justice is done,” he said.The Ontario County Sheriff's Office said a man is in critical condition after being found unresponsive at a motel Friday morning following an altercation.Two brothers who own a gym on Rochester's east side are facing federal drug trafficking-related charges following an investigation by New York State Police.Rochester, N.Y. Police said a business owner on the city's east side was assaulted after he caught up with a man who stole the tip jar from his business.Gates, N.Y. — One person was hospitalized following a seven-vehicle crash Friday morning on State Route 390, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.The Roc Holiday Village has once again transformed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park in downtown Rochester into a festive wonderland.
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