Chris Tang Ping-keung, secretary for security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, speaks to members of the media after the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court, a residential estate in Tai Po on November 28, 2025. Photo: VCG

After Hong Kong security chief Chris Tang urged Hong Kong society to stand together and leave no room for those who seek to disrupt the city while handling the aftermath of the deadly fire incident, the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) issued a statement on Saturday to express solidarity with all sectors of society following the fire, emphasizing that although efforts by the central government, the HKSAR and the public, including those on the mainland, have demonstrated unity in disaster response, some anti-China troublemakers disrupting Hong Kong continue to exploit the situation with malicious intent.

Tang noted during a press conference on Friday that there is a large amount of disinformation emerging online regarding the disaster relief.

Those spreading misinformation are attempting to sow social division, Tang said at the joint press conference held by the Hong Kong Security Bureau, Fire Services Department and the Hong Kong Police Force to update the firefighting and rescue operations on the five-alarm fire at Wang Fuk residential compound in Tai Po. 

The spokesperson from the central government's office noted that anti-China troublemakers in Hong Kong have seized on the tragedy to spread false information, attack the rescue efforts of the HKSAR government, provoke social division and incite resentment toward the Chief Executive and the SAR administration. 

"These individuals have shown a blatant disregard for human dignity and truth. They are exploiting victims' grief to pursue their political agenda, attempting to drag Hong Kong back into the turmoil of 2019 and return the region to the dark days of 'triad gangs'," the spokesperson stated. "Such acts are deplorable and will be met with legal sanction and moral condemnation."

The fire broke out in high-rise buildings on Wednesday. Despite great difficulties, firefighting and rescue work at the scene is now essentially complete, Tang stated. He confirmed a death toll of 128 with 79 injuries, and noted that while 110 of the 467 missing persons reports have been resolved, the conditions of approximately 200 people are still unknown. 

Tang expressed gratitude to all parties involved in the rescue efforts and in supporting affected residents. He also stressed that, once conditions at the site are safe, police are prepared to deploy all necessary resources to conduct a thorough evidence collection and investigation. Furthermore, he addressed some public suspicion, stating that questioning the work of the firefighting rescue is "unfair to firefighters on the front lines." 

Notably, Tang refuted what he called "misinformation," stating, "There are false claims that the government did not provide free accommodation, forcing some affected resident to stay at a hotel costing HK$8,000 per night, and some claims that our firefighters lacked basic protective equipment and had no food, they have to wait for residents to provide food. Those are completely misinformation."

Those who spread these rumors attempted to divide the society, Tang said. He also expressed that "I hope our society to stand united in dealing with the aftermath of this tragedy, and to leave no room for those who seek to disrupt Hong Kong."

Amid the compassionate crowd, reporters from the local media Wen Wei Po identified remnants of some anti-government figures, disguised in black masks and operating tents on-site in the relief work of the fire incident. The police's national security department is deeply concerned that these individuals may hijack the disaster-relief operation to sow social discord and advance their anti-China, destabilizing agendas,according to the media report.

The office's spokesperson affirmed that with strong support from the central government and the mainland, the HKSAR government has organized the city's disaster response. It highlighted the effectiveness of the "Lion Rock Spirit" in uniting society and countering disinformation spread by hostile forces aiming to create chaos.

Relevant HKSAR departments have acted promptly to refute rumors and clarify facts, while investigating and preventing attempts to exploit the disaster to destabilize Hong Kong, the spokesperson said, noting that we are confident that the public will see through these ploys, reject divisive rhetoric disguised as "advocacy for the people," and join hands in supporting recovery efforts.

The Office warned that no matter what tactics these anti-China troublemakers disrupting Hong Kong adopt, they will be pursued and severely punished under the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.