Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong publisher and democracy campaigner, was convicted of national security charges in a city where even minor dissent is now whispered.
Mr. Lai, who was found guilty on Monday in a landmark national security trial, has for decades been a rare figure in Hong Kong: A politically outspoken tycoon.
Hong Kong, with some of the world’s highest housing costs and inequality, must now figure out how to help thousands of residents who lost friends, family and homes.
The authorities quickly arrested critics demanding accountability, signaling an expansive use of the security law to silence dissent over nonpolitical tragedies.
Investigators say contractors wrapped the buildings in substandard scaffolding netting and then sought to hide it from inspectors. The toll from the fire rose to 151.
The authorities said flammable netting and foam boards may have fueled the city’s deadliest blaze in nearly 80 years, killing more than 90 and prompting arrests.
The authorities said flammable netting and foam boards may have fueled the city’s deadliest blaze in nearly 70 years, killing 55 and prompting arrests.
The authorities said flammable netting and foam boards may have fueled the city’s deadliest blaze in nearly 70 years, killing 55 and prompting arrests.
The police said that building materials used by the company for the work at Wang Fuk Court may not have been up to fire safety standards. The police did not identify the company or who was arrested.
Connexion
