"Hong Kong has a tradition of independent, judge-led inquiries into disasters, something that would never happen in mainland China, where the judiciary is controlled by the Chinese Communist party (CCP) and public discussion of tragedies is tightly controlled. But since the crackdown after the 2019 and 2020 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, including the implementation of two national security laws, many legal experts believe that Hong Kong's judiciary is no longer independent."
"Jonathan Sumption, a former UK supreme court justice, wrote last year as he resigned from Hong Kong's court of final appeal: The rule of law is profoundly compromised in any area about which the government feels strongly. It is safe to assume that Hong Kong's worst fire in decades, which appeared to follow months of complaints from residents about the potential flammability of materials used in construction works, is something that the government will feel strongly about."
Hong Kong mourns 151 people killed in the Wang Fuk Court apartment fire in the New Territories. John Lee announced the creation of an independent committee to investigate the blaze. Hong Kong historically holds independent, judge-led inquiries into disasters, unlike mainland China where the judiciary is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and public discussion of tragedies is tightly controlled. Since the 2019–2020 pro-democracy crackdown and the implementation of national security laws, many legal experts say the judiciary is no longer independent. Authorities have arrested 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter, and no official has taken responsibility. The death toll will loom over upcoming LegCo elections held under a patriots-only rule.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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