HK man arrested for alleged sedition in relation to fatal Tai Po blaze

A Hong Kong university student, Miles Kwan, was arrested on suspicion of sedition for initiating a petition related to the fatal Tai Po fire, which killed at least 128 people. Kwan's petition called for government accountability, including an independent investigation into the fire and regulatory neglect. The arrest occurred amid ongoing investigations into suspected bid-rigging and corruption linked to the construction company responsible for the renovation work at the housing complex. Hong Kong's new security legislation, enacted in March 2024, increased the maximum penalty for sedition to seven years in prison.