The fire in a Hong Kong high-rise last week was followed by an outpouring of support for victims and official efforts to control the public response, including a threat to arrest those who direct their anger over the tragedy at the government.
It was a display of how the once-freewheeling city of Hong Kong has been brought to heel by strict national-security laws and Beijing’s growing control.
The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon and engulfed seven of eight towers in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex. It wasn’t brought under control until more than 24 hours later. At least 151 people died and many of the complex’s 4,600 residents, including seniors who had lived there for decades, lost their homes.
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