Hong Kong government accuses foreign media of how it reported on fire that killed more than 150 people
Messages left at the scene of the catastrophic fire in Hong Kong Photo: Tommy WANG / AFP / Profimedia
China's national security office in Hong Kong has warned foreign media not to spread “false information” and “denigrate” the government's efforts to handle the city's worst fire in 80 years, Reuters reports. The fire on November 26 killed at least 159 people after flames engulfed eight tower blocks in a residential complex.
Ahead of Sunday's local elections, the Office for the Maintenance of National Security announced that it had summoned representatives of an unspecified number of foreign publications to criticize their reporting of the fire at the Wang Fuk Court complex. Reuters was not contacted and did not attend the meeting.
“Some foreign publications have reported on Hong Kong, ignoring the facts, spreading false information, distorting and denigrating the government's intervention in the disaster, attacking and interfering with the Legislative Council elections, causing social division and opposition,” the Bureau's communique said.
Hong Kong fire: Authorities announce new death toll and threaten those spreading unofficial information
The meeting was held under provisions of a national security law that Beijing imposed on the former British colony in 2020 after pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019. The law states that the office can take “necessary measures to strengthen control” of foreign entities, including news agencies.
Saturday's meeting is the first time of its kind that the foreign press has been called to be criticized for the way it reported a certain event.
Since the 2019 protests, which drew millions of people, authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong have cracked down on opposition in the city, arresting pro-democracy politicians and closing down media outlets and NGOs.
The meeting with the foreign press comes as authorities try to contain the public anger generated by the catastrophic fire, which is believed to be caused by insufficient regulations and poor quality materials used in the renovation.
Authorities detained several activists who called the local government to account. Beijing also warned the public to use the catastrophe to “disrupt” Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is ranked 140 out of 180 in Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index.
