Hong Kong Diaspora Demands Answers After Deadly High-Rise Fire

LA-based diaspora group says the blaze that killed 159 people reflects deeper governance failures and a political climate that stifles open inquiry.

Firefighters work as efforts are underway to extinguish flames engulfing bamboo scaffolding across multiple buildings at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on Nov. 26, 2025. Tyrone Siu/Reuters

A massive residential fire in Hong Kong on Nov. 26 killed 159 people, with the death toll continuing to rise. Overseas Hong Kongers say the tragedy has deepened long-standing frustration over chronic government failures and an increasingly restrictive political climate that leaves little room for open inquiry.

Charles Lam, a representative of the Hong Kong Forum Los Angeles (HKFLA), told The Epoch Times that Hong Kongers abroad were “heartbroken and outraged” as they watched footage of the blaze at Wang Fuk Court, a high-rise residential complex in the city.

He urged Hong Kong authorities to conduct a transparent investigation and avoid turning the disaster into a political blame game.

Lam said many overseas Hong Kongers were alarmed by attempts in Hong Kong’s local media to shift responsibility onto the city’s century-old bamboo scaffolding tradition.

“The government should not dodge a full inspection of building materials,” he said, adding that the diaspora is also pressing authorities to allow grassroots relief efforts to operate freely rather than consolidating control over donations and first-hand information on the ground.

The fire is one of Hong Kong’s deadliest disasters in history. Overseas Hong Kong expat communities from Europe to North America have organized vigils and prayer gatherings.

In Los Angeles, religious organizations held a memorial service on Dec. 3 to honor the victims and support their families.

Public Anger Intensifies Over Government Response

When asked whether the tragedy could trigger larger protests in Hong Kong, Lam said public anger has already surfaced.

A man who helped launch an online petition demanding government accountability was arrested by the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force, which, according to Lam, is a reminder that Hong Kong remains under intense political pressure.

“With rising public anger, the government cannot expect long-term stability if it refuses to confront the public’s concerns,” he said.

Birds fly next to burned buildings of the Wang Fuk Court housing complex after the deadly fire, in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on Nov. 30, 2025. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

Lam criticized the government’s handling of relief supplies in the aftermath of the fire. He said that when residents donate large quantities of goods to help displaced families, city officials soon take over the supplies and reassign them to government-affiliated care teams for distribution.

“The government should respect the community’s generosity rather than letting official groups take credit,” Lam said.

The HKFLA does not plan to organize fundraising efforts abroad, citing risks associated with cross-border donations due to its explicit political stance against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Instead, Lam recommended donating directly to trusted grassroots organizations or to the Red Cross in Hong Kong.

Cultural Efforts by Expats

Beyond relief efforts, the HKFLA will host a cultural event on Dec. 6 at Liberty Sculpture Park in Yermo, California, where “Lumli Lumlong,” a London-based Hong Kong artist couple in exile, will unveil a mural for the “Hong Kong Corner” initiative.

The Hong Kong artist couple Lumli Lumlong in an undated file photograph. Courtesy of Lumli Lumlong

The pair, who were well-known in Hong Kong’s art community before relocating to the UK, continue to exhibit their work across Europe and strengthen ties among the Hong Kong diaspora.

Their U.S. event aims to highlight the resilience of Hong Kongers in their struggle for freedom and the CCP’s ongoing suppression of the once semi-self-governing city.

Xu Manjuan contributed to this report.