The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said today that it strongly condemns foreign forces for making unfounded and slanderous remarks regarding the relief and investigation work following last week’s fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, and for maliciously attacking the city’s rescue operations.

The Government said such foreign forces include anti-China media organisations, and and other destabilising anti-China forces.

In a statement, it said those who try to use the disaster to stir up chaos in society are maliciously blotting out the efforts of the Government and the community and should be condemned.

Stating that Hong Kong society is suffering from a collective trauma in the fire’s aftermath, it added that the city needs a society that is united, with people focused on follow-up support and recovery.  

The statement said that, regrettably, foreign forces and anti-China forces with ulterior motives have disseminated fake news and false messages online and through seditious pamphlets, intending to maliciously smear rescue efforts, instigate social division and conflict, and undermine society’s unity. It said these acts have caused “secondary damage” to the residents.

The statement emphasised that, if left unchecked, such acts will not only impact negatively on relief work but will undermine the stability of society and endanger national security. Hong Kong must not let its guard down against such risks, the Government added.

Furthermore, it said it will not tolerate malicious smears targeting the Government and rescue personnel, in particular criminal acts that are intended to incite hatred against the Government, confounding right and wrong.

It iterated that what is most needed now is for all sectors of Hong Kong to stand united as one in supporting the affected residents to move beyond their grief as soon as possible.

The Government said it will not condone any person who attempts to sabotage or interfere with the rescue work, adding that wherever these people are, the Government will make every effort in pursuing them in accordance with the law and make sure that justice is done.

The statement reminded members of the public to stay alert to those who seek to exploit the disaster and disseminate unfounded information in an attempt to antagonise society, and to incite public hatred against the Government and the country, thereby endangering national security.

It also appealed to members of the public not to defy the law and to refrain from having connections with destabilising anti-China forces.

The Government stressed that it will exhaust all means to pursue and combat such forces, and will ensure any violations of the law will be pursued regardless of distance through decisive enforcement actions.