A man who charged onto the track at Sha Tin Racecourse holding a banner relating to the deadly Tai Po blaze has been arrested on suspicion of causing disorder in a public place.
Police said on Sunday that they had apprehended a 59-year-old man over the incident and detained him for investigation.
Viral videos appeared to show the moment a man ran onto the racetrack at around 4.45pm, during the eighth race of the day. The man, who was holding a giant banner with Chinese characters, was quickly tackled to the ground and subdued by security.
The race was unaffected, and there were no injuries.
The banner showed words such as “Wang Fuk Court,” “add oil, Hongkongers,” and “committee” – a likely reference to a newly established government review committee to look into the causes of the fire.
The fire, which happened in late November, killed at least 160 people at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The estate was undergoing a large-scale renovation project at the time. Authorities believe that foam boards and construction netting that did not comply with fire safety standards contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze.
Sunday’s incident took place as the Hong Kong Jockey Club was holding its annual Longines Hong Kong International Races event, featuring top jockeys from around the world.
Police said in a statement emailed to HKFP on Monday that the public must abide by the law and should comply with national security and public safety when expressing demands.
On Friday, the government appointed High Court Judge David Lok to lead the review committee investigating the fire.
