Mourners continued to visit a small park near the site of a devastating Hong Kong apartment fire on Wednesday, leaving hundreds of bouquets and notes in memory of the victims, whose ages ranged from one to 97.
“I hope people can come here to lay their grief to rest,” said visitor Sarah Lam, adding that the victims endured “many injustices.” She called for a swift uncovering of the truth so that the deceased “don’t need to depart this world bearing such undeserved grievances.”
Sections of the park were adorned with colorful origami cranes, while volunteers distributed paper and pens to visitors. Forrest Li, 26, described the site as a “bridge” for expressing grief and connecting silently with the deceased.
Residents of the only unaffected tower were allowed brief access to retrieve belongings. Authorities have linked the fire, which engulfed buildings undergoing major renovations, to the use of non–fire-resistant netting. Flames spread rapidly over apartment surfaces wrapped in bamboo scaffolding, protective netting, and foam boards.
Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn ordered all Hong Kong buildings undergoing major maintenance to remove netting by Saturday. Police have arrested 15 people, including construction company executives, on suspicion of manslaughter. An additional six were detained over malfunctioning fire alarms at the estate.
Beyond grief, the disaster has sparked calls for accountability and reform. City leader John Lee cautioned against exploiting the tragedy for crime. Beijing’s national security office in Hong Kong condemned “external hostile forces” for attempting to stir unrest, warning that “all conspiracies to disrupt Hong Kong will have no place to hide and will be thoroughly extinguished.”
Local media reported arrests over the weekend for sedition, including 24-year-old student Miles Kwan and former district councillor Kenneth Cheung. Meanwhile, a student union “democracy wall” at Hong Kong Baptist University was blocked off on Wednesday, though a visible message urged authorities to respond to public demands and ensure justice for the victims.
