Months after a deadly fire engulfed the Wang Fuk Court residential towers in Hong Kong, the questions surrounding accountability for the tragedy have shifted focus. A university student has been expelled by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, or CUHK, for raising the question of accountability for the tragic incident that claimed 168 lives in November 2025.In the aftermath of the fire, Miles Kwan, a 24-year-old student, joined others in launching a petition calling for an independent investigation into the incident.
The petition sought a review of safety certifications, scrutiny of alleged lapses in construction oversight, and accountability for officials following reports that concerns had been raised about flammable scaffolding netting before the fire.Authorities detained Kwan on allegations of “seditious intent,” citing his distribution of flyers that called for government accountability in ensuring public safety, The Guardian reported.According to the university, the decision followed what it described as “multiple acts of misconduct,” including his conduct during disciplinary proceedings. Kwan had completed his academic requirements and was weeks away from graduating in March.He received demerits for calling the committee a “kangaroo panel” and a “disgrace,” as well as for a 2023 charge of “criminal damage” linked to placing stickers on lamp-posts in 2022 to mark the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown.According to CUHK, a student who gets three demerits due to disciplnary act gets expelled from studying at the institute.In a statement following the decision, Kwan said, “You can take away qualifications, but you can’t take away dignity.”The controversy widened this week, and the case drew attention from rights groups and student organisations, who argued that the demands centred on public safety and transparency.CUHK has not publicly linked its decision to Kwan’s activism related to the fire, but the move has prompted debate among students and academics about academic freedom and the boundaries of political expression on campus.Authorities have since established a judge-led committee to investigate the causes of the Wang Fuk Court fire. Officials say the inquiry will examine safety procedures and responsibility for the incident, though critics have questioned whether the process will be sufficiently independent.Families of the victims continue to seek answers as the investigation proceeds. The case has also intensified broader discussions in the city about public safety, accountability, and the limits of dissent in the aftermath of major tragedies.
