Beijing’s Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS) has again warned that foreign forces which are alleged to have attacked, and incited opposition to, the Tai Po fire rescue and relief efforts will be pursued. It is the second such statement in a week, neither of which named any groups or individuals.
The office said on Wednesday that a small group of “hostile external forces” had attempted to stir up opposition in the city under the pretext of “petitioning for the people,” amid the relief work at Wang Fuk Court, where a massive fire last Wednesday claimed at least 159 lives.
Without providing details, the office said these forces had “added fuel to the fire” by “splashing dirty water on the SAR government and rescue personnel.” It accused them of “erasing” the efforts of the Hong Kong government and various sectors, and of “insulting” the city’s “Lion Rock spirit” – a reference to resilience.
The office further alleged that the same forces sought to “copy the playbook” of the 2019 extradition bill protests and “control” foreign agents in the city: “There are still people who attempt to provoke the public to rekindle ‘protest memories,’ creating undercurrents to disrupt Hong Kong and launch another ‘colour revolution’,” the statement said in Chinese.
Protests erupted in June 2019 over a since-axed extradition bill. They escalated into sometimes violent displays of dissent against police behaviour, amid calls for democracy and anger over Beijing’s encroachment. Demonstrators demanded an independent probe into police conduct, amnesty for those arrested and a halt to the characterisation of protests as “riots.”
Local gov’t lashes out
Late on Wednesday, a government press release blasted “foreign forces, including anti-China media organisations, including anti-China media organisations, and anti-China and destabilising forces” for “making unfounded and slanderous remarks,” and trying to use the fire to “stir up chaos in society.”
Without naming and groups or individuals, a spokesperson said: “Regrettably, foreign forces and anti-China and destabilising forces with ulterior motives, through disseminating fake news and false messages on the Internet, and even distributing seditious pamphlets, etc., intended to maliciously smear the rescue work, instigate social division and conflict to undermine the society’s unity in taking forward the support and relief work.”
‘Anti-China disrupters’
Wednesday’s statement was the second from the OSNS since the fatal blaze broke out last week. On Saturday, the office had warned that “anti-China disruptors” would face the “full force” of the national security law for attempting to exploit the fire to “incite resentment” against the government.
Shortly after, Hong Kong police made at least three sedition-related arrests linked to the tragedy.
Those arrested included university student Miles Kwan, who organised a petition calling for an independent investigation into the blaze; former district councillor Kenneth Cheung; and a volunteer assisting victims with supplies.
On Tuesday, solicitor Bruce Liu, a former chair of the Association for Democracy and People’s Livelihood, was taken in by the police force’s national security department. He had been scheduled to speak at a civil society press conference on the Wang Fuk Court fire, which was later cancelled, citing “notification” from a “department.”
