China’s national security officials in Hong Kong warned foreign media to be careful about false or misleading reports on the major fire at Wang Fuk Court. This was the city’s worst fire in about 80 years, and the warning came just before the Legislative Council election.
Officials said they summoned some foreign news outlets, though they did not name them, because of their coverage of the Wang Fuk Court fire, which killed at least 159 people. The government accused the media of misrepresenting the situation, interfering with disaster response, and influencing the election.
The meeting took place under the national security law that Beijing introduced in 2020, which allows closer monitoring of foreign organizations. Reuters said they were not contacted and did not attend the meeting.
Many people are angry about the fire. Investigators found a lack of oversight and poor-quality building materials. Some activists calling for accountability have been arrested. Beijing warned against using the fire to cause unrest in Hong Kong.
Press freedom in Hong Kong has declined significantly since the 2019 protests. The city now ranks 140 out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index.
