How China is controlling anger over the Hong Kong fire - Asia Specific podcast, BBC World Service

As Hong Kong residents grieve for the more than 150 people killed in the city’s worst fire in decades, authorities are working to control and contain the anger. Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 https://bbc.in/3VyyriM The arrest of a young man demanding answers and the reported arrests of two others have shone a light on how sensitive the aftermath of the fire is for China’s government. Almost six years after Beijing criminalised political dissent in the city with a sweeping national security law in response to mass protests, volunteers are organising and mobilising again - this time, not to demonstrate, but to help fire victims. But they’re being cautious not to be seen to be crossing any political red lines. To unpack the story, Asia Specific's host Mariko Oi is joined by Martin Yip, the BBC Chinese Service reporter Martin Yip, and Danny Vincent, a senior journalist from the BBC World Service. This episode was recorded on Monday 1 December. 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - Hong Kong residents reel from the aftermath of the fatal fire 02:00 - What are people in Hong Kong angry about? 02:24 - Why Hong Kong residents are fiercely protective of bamboo scaffoldings in the city 03:35 - What the arrest of a Hong Kong student demanding answers to the fire says about the future of the financial city 05:10 - How Hong Kong has changed since Beijing's imposition of the National Security Law in 2019 05:30 - Why China is particularly concerned about young people mobilising in Hong Kong 06:48 - How Hong Kong residents are reacting to the arrest of the student demanding answers to the fire 09:10 - How different does Hong Kong feel like now to someone who has grown up there? 10:25 - Why Hong Kong's legislative elections slated for 7 December will still go ahead 12:41 - Are Hong Kong locals confident that the authorities will conduct a fair investigation into the origins of the fire? 14:26 - Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee says those responsible for fire will be held accountable 15:20 - Have young people in Hong Kong changed in the five years since the imposition of the National Security Law? Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here 👉🏽 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4c3njIxB0KHuO8SS2mBMtUc Instagram: @bbcworldservice Email: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Mariko Oi Producer and video journalist: Derek Cai Camera: Muhammad Firdaus Bin Mohd Ansary, Rosalehin Bin Rosli, Syaik Muhammad Sidik Editor: Bill Birtles ---------------- This is the official BBC World Service YouTube channel. If you like what we do, you can also find us here: Instagram 👉🏽 https://www.instagram.com/bbcworldservice Twitter 👉🏽 https://twitter.com/bbcworldservice Facebook 👉🏽 https://facebook.com/bbcworldservice BBC World Service website 👉🏽 https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio Thanks for watching and subscribing! #BBCWorldService #WorldService #HongKong #HongKongFire #nationalsecuritylaw