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Security Tight After HK Fire
Security at the Immigration Tower Thuresday was tight with all entering identified and searched after a suspicious fire broke out there on Wednesday, as is Chinadaily reported.
Staff entered the building via the first floor connecting bridge, but people seeking document renewals were forced to enter through the ground floor lobby. People bound for the 9th, 13th and 14th floor were also searched.
Thuresday afternoon, police arrested nine more suspects in connection with the alleged arson, bringing the total arrested to 15.
Among the most recently arrested were seven men and two women from 17 to 35 years old.
Nineteen people including some immigration staff are still hospitalized. Of the nine staff members injured, two were in critical condition, one was in serious condition and the rest were stable.
The fire allegedly broke out around 6 pm when a group of mainland Chinese who were claiming the right to abode in Hong Kong set the office on fire and attacked immigration staff with knives. The group had supposedly been refused local identity cards. A total of 50 persons including 23 immigration staff were wounded.
Yesterday morning, Betty Tung, wife of the SAR's Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, visited some of the injured victims in Queen Mary's Hospital.
Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong and Executive Councillors Leung Chun-ying, Rosanna Wong and Tam Yiu-chung also visited the wounded.
Speaking from Australia where he is on an official trip, Financial Secretary Donald Tsang said he was shocked and saddened by the incident.
"My first thoughts are for the victims and their families.
"Hong Kong is a free, open and tolerant community but we cannot tolerate lawlessness of this kind,'' Tsang said.
Wang Fengchao, deputy director of the Central Government's Liaison Office in Hong Kong, also condemned the culprits.
"Hong Kong is a place governed by the rule of law. While here, mainlanders must abide by Hong Kong laws or be punished,'' said Wang.
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