HONG KONG: The Hong Kong government and Chinese national flags were flown at half-mast as officials paid tribute by observing a three-minute silence to mourn the victims of the residential building fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, reported Xinhua.
John Lee, chief executive of Hong Kong, along with principal officials of the government and civil servants, participated in a memorial service at the government headquarters at around 8.00 am on Saturday.
The Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong, the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong, the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong, as well as the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, also observed silence and hoisted flags at half-mast on Saturday morning.
According to the Hong Kong government, the Chinese national flag and the Hong Kong government flag displayed at all government buildings and facilities will be flown at half-mast from Saturday to Monday. During the period, government officials will not attend non-essential public activities.
All entertainment and celebration activities organised or funded by the government will be cancelled or postponed appropriately.
During the mourning period, the government will set up condolence stations in all 18 districts of the city, enabling the public to sign condolence books and pay their respects to the victims.
By Friday, the death toll from the fire that broke out on Wednesday afternoon at Wang Fuk Court, a residential complex in Tai Po district, had reached 128, according to the Hong Kong government. – BERNAMA-XINHUA
