Beijing's powerful security agency in Hong Kong has summoned senior international journalists, issuing a stark warning against "trouble-making" following critical reporting on the territory's deadliest fire in 75 years.
A Deadly Blaze and a Political Flashpoint
The confrontation stems from the catastrophic fire at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in northern Hong Kong on 26 November. The blaze in the eight-tower estate, home to nearly 5,000 residents, claimed at least 159 lives, making it the world's most fatal residential building fire since 1980.
Investigations revealed the sprawling block was undergoing extensive renovations using substandard, flammable materials, sparking significant public outcry over safety standards.
The Security Office's Direct Warning
Senior reporters from outlets including the New York Times and Agence France-Presse were called to a meeting with the Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS). The agency, established by Beijing in 2020 under the National Security Law, accused journalists of smearing the government's disaster response.
An official present at the meeting, who did not provide specific examples or take questions, alleged that foreign media had "disregarded facts, spread false information, distorted and smeared the government’s disaster relief and aftermath work."
In a statement released online, the OSNS delivered a blunt message: "Don’t say we didn’t warn you." It urged media to "not cross the legal red line" and stated it would not tolerate actions by "anti-China and trouble-making elements in Hong Kong."
Eroding Freedoms Under National Security Law
The semi-autonomous region, returned from Britain to China in 1997 under a "one-country, two-systems" framework, has long championed liberties like a free press absent on the mainland. However, analysts note those freedoms have significantly eroded since the imposition of the sweeping 2020 National Security Law, which grants Beijing extensive powers to curb dissent.
The OSNS had earlier warned against "external forces" and "anti-China media organisations" it claimed sought to exploit the tragedy. Its Saturday statement also accused some media of interfering with the upcoming legislative election, set for Sunday. Hong Kong's electoral system was overhauled in 2021 to ensure only "patriots"—effectively pro-Beijing candidates—can hold office.
This direct confrontation between state security and the international press corps marks a significant escalation in Hong Kong's tightening political climate, placing global media coverage squarely in the crosshairs of Beijing's stabilisation efforts.
