50 h. ago Manslaughter hard to prove in Hong Kong fire amid regulatory gaps, experts warn

Shortcomings in Hong Kong’s building regulations could complicate efforts to prove manslaughter in the Tai Po housing estate blaze that killed 159 people, according to legal and construction experts. Police have arrested 21 people so far, including 15 for alleged manslaughter, after authorities found flammable foam panels and nets that were not flame-retardant on the scaffolding that covered the eight blocks of Wang Fuk Court, which had been under renovation since July last year. The blaze at...

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58 h. ago Beijing slams ‘external hostile forces’ for exploiting deadly fire in Hong Kong

Beijing’s national security arm in Hong Kong on Wednesday condemned “external hostile forces” for exploiting the deadly Tai Po fire that killed at least 159 people, as police arrested a man after he allegedly made derogatory online comments about the victims. In a strongly worded post, a spokesman for the Office for Safeguarding National Security condemned “a small clique of external hostile forces” for “stirring up trouble and taking advantage of the chaos” in the aftermath of the fire. The...

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3 d. ago No tolerance for sabotage of Hong Kong fire relief efforts, John Lee warns

Hong Kong’s leader has warned that authorities will not tolerate any attempts to sabotage relief efforts for residents affected by the city’s deadliest fire in decades, after national security police made arrests for alleged sedition related to the blaze. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday also pledged to roll out systemic reforms and said those responsible for the tragedy would be held accountable after being asked why he should remain in his position following the fire. Last week’s...

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3 d. ago Hong Kong man facing murder charge after wife found with knife wounds, burns

A man has been arrested after allegedly attacking and killing his wife with a knife and trying to set fire to their home in northwestern Hong Kong. Police said they received a report of a flat fire and a person injured at 6.59am on Tuesday from security guards at On Ting Estate in Tuen Mun. First responders arrived at the flat in Ting Fuk House and put out a fire that covered about 11 sq ft, said Chief Inspector Patty Chong Yuen‑na of Tuen Mun police. The woman, a convenience shop worker, had...

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6 d. ago Man arrested for alleged sedition in Hong Kong amid warning over fire rumours

Hong Kong’s national security police have arrested a man on suspicion of trying to incite sedition in relation to the deadly blaze in Tai Po, the Post has learned. The move on Saturday came as the central government’s national security authorities in Hong Kong warned against “anti-China and ill-intentioned individuals” exploiting the tragedy in an attempt to disrupt the city. A source earlier said a man, identified as “Miles”, had been taken to a police station for questioning. It remains...

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9 d. ago 36 dead, 279 missing in huge Hong Kong fire; 3 arrested for alleged manslaughter

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. What we know so far: 36 people, including a firefighter, have died. Some 279 are still missing 29 have been hospitalised, seven in a critical condition The eight residential blocks in the estate had been undergoing renovations since July 2024, sheathed in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh Authorities say the rapid spread of fire was “unusual”, with...

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9 d. ago 44 dead, 279 missing in huge Hong Kong fire; 3 arrested for alleged manslaughter

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. What we know so far: 44 people, including a firefighter, have died. Some 279 are still missing Among those hospitalised, 45 are in serious condition The eight residential blocks in the estate had been undergoing renovations since July 2024, sheathed in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh Authorities say the rapid spread of fire was “unusual”, with...

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9 d. ago 44 dead, 279 missing in huge Hong Kong fire; 3 arrested for alleged manslaughter – as it happened

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. What we know so far: 44 people, including a firefighter, have died. Some 279 are still missing Among those hospitalised, 45 are in serious condition The eight residential blocks in the estate had been undergoing renovations since July 2024, sheathed in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh Authorities say the rapid spread of fire was “unusual”, with...

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9 d. ago Hong Kong student arrested after birthday celebration takes violent turn

A Hong Kong student has been arrested after he allegedly stabbed his classmate following a dispute at a public housing estate, with police investigating the cause of the incident. Police said on Wednesday that the 17-year-old victim suffered knife wounds to his eyes, ears, hands, waist and back. The case was reported at around 7pm on Tuesday at Mei Yue House in Shek Kip Mei Estate in Sham Shui Po. “After our preliminary investigation, we suspect that the pair had a dispute over a trivial matter...

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1 week ago Hong Kong’s national security police arrest 2 over alleged seditious online posts

Hong Kong’s national security police arrested a man and a woman for allegedly publishing social media posts with seditious intent and funding activities that endanger national security. According to an insider, officers arrested the pair on Monday, at Kwai Chung Plaza, a shopping centre and private housing estate in the Kwai Tsing district. The force said they had arrested a 32-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman for committing an act that had a seditious intention under the Safeguarding...

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2 w. ago Hong Kong police arrest man over stealing credit cards on flight from Abu Dhabi

Hong Kong police have arrested a man for allegedly stealing five credit cards from the luggage of two passengers on a flight from Abu Dhabi to the city, the Post has learned. A source said on Friday that the man, 52, was arrested a day earlier at Hong Kong International Airport after two passengers filed reports with authorities. The insider said another passenger, 41, had witnessed the suspect take the credit cards from a 34-year-old woman’s luggage, which was stored in an overhead compartment...

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2 w. ago Man arrested for allegedly urging Hongkongers to boycott Legco election

Hong Kong national security police have arrested a man on suspicion of posting social media messages urging others not to vote or to cast invalid ballots in next month’s Legislative Council election. Police said on Tuesday they first detected a suspicious account in September last year that repeatedly published messages deemed to have seditious intent, including inciting hatred and contempt against the government, judiciary and law enforcement agencies. Superintendent Chan On-ming of the...

Politics

2 w. ago Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yongxin closer to prosecution over money scandals

Local authorities have formally approved the arrest of the former head of China’s famous Shaolin Temple, four months after he was placed under criminal investigation for alleged financial and sex scandals. Shi Yongxin’s arrest had been approved “on suspicion of embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, and accepting bribes as a non-state functionary”, the Xinxiang Procuratorate announced in a statement on Sunday. Xinxiang, in China’s central Henan province, is about two hours’ drive from the...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong taxi driver arrested over death of elderly woman in road accident

A Hong Kong taxi driver has been arrested after allegedly hitting an elderly woman who later died in hospital from her injuries. On Saturday, police reported that a 61-year-old taxi driver surnamed Lo was driving along Wah Ting Street when he turned left onto Ap Lei Chau Main Street and allegedly struck an 81-year-old woman surnamed Chou. When officers arrived at the scene, Chou was found unconscious with a head injury and was rushed to Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam. She was certified dead...

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2 w. ago 2 Hong Kong men arrested over vandalising Legco election campaign posters

Hong Kong police have arrested two men for allegedly vandalising campaign materials for the coming Legislative Council election. Police said on Saturday that officers found three vandalised election campaign posters hanging from the Tong Mi Road footbridge in Mong Kok on Thursday. After an investigation, officers arrested two local men, aged 29 and 34, in Mong Kok on Friday on suspicion of criminal damage, the force said. Police said the two suspects were being detained as part of the...

Politics

3 w. ago 3 arrested in Hong Kong for allegedly inciting spoiled ballots, election boycott

Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog has arrested three people for allegedly reposting online content inciting others to abstain from voting or to cast invalid ballots in the coming Legislative Council election. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said on Friday that the suspects – two men and one woman, aged 55 to 66 – were arrested on the same day. The watchdog said it would pursue the case in accordance with the law and established procedures while seeking legal advice from...

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3 w. ago Beijing slams election smears as 3 arrested in Hong Kong over reposted content

Beijing’s national security arm in Hong Kong has slammed attacks and smears on the coming Legislative Council election, while the city’s anti-corruption agency arrested three people for allegedly reposting online content inciting others to abstain from voting or to cast invalid ballots. The Office for Safeguarding National Security on Friday condemned acts by some people to disrupt the December 7 election, including inciting others not to vote or to cast “blank ballots” and deliberately damaging...

Politics

3 w. ago Helper arrested in Hong Kong for allegedly stealing HK$520,000 from employer

A domestic helper in Hong Kong has been arrested for allegedly stealing about HK$520,000 (US$66,700) in cash from her employer at a luxury flat in Happy Valley. Police said on Wednesday that the employer, 59, a woman living at The Leighton Hill on Broadwood Road, discovered the money – comprising cash of HK$500,000 and 17,000 yuan (US$2,190) – missing and suspected her helper had taken it. The employer, a mainland Chinese woman, reported the case at around 9.30am. Officers arrived at the scene...

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3 w. ago Man, 55, arrested for stealing credit cards on flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong

Hong Kong police have arrested a man for allegedly stealing the credit cards of two passengers aboard an inbound flight from Bangkok on Tuesday. The force on Wednesday said the passengers discovered their personal belongings missing from the overhead compartment and suspected theft. Police received a report on Tuesday and arrested a 55-year-old man. The suspect, from mainland China, was detained on suspicion of theft and remained in custody as officers from the force’s airport district continued...

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3 w. ago Man, 55, arrested over stealing credit cards on Bangkok to Hong Kong flight

Hong Kong police have arrested a man for allegedly stealing the credit cards of two passengers aboard an inbound flight from Bangkok on Tuesday. The force on Wednesday said the passengers discovered their personal belongings missing from the overhead compartment and suspected theft. Police received a report on Tuesday and arrested the 55-year-old man. The suspect, from mainland China, was detained on suspicion of theft and remained in custody as officers from the force’s airport district...

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