9 Arrested for Illegal Drills: Tai Po Fire Lurkers Ready to Strike

Police smash a hidden plot. On December 11 and 12, the National Security Department rounded up nine local men running secret military-style training in dingy industrial units. Some had even shown up at the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire scene decked out in black-clad riot gear, itching for chaos.

Hong Kong cops pull no punches. National Security chief superintendent Li Kwai-wah announces the first-ever bust under Section 13 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance—illegal drilling. That means offering or joining weapon drills, military exercises, or tactical formations without proper approval. Once convicted, defendants face up to seven years behind bars. Worse if foreign forces pull the strings: 10 years max.

Guns, Bombs, and Terror Vibes

The Insider spots the real red flags here. These aren't weekend warriors—they're diving into firearms training and bomb-making.

First, as Security Secretary Chris Tang Ping-keung points out: forget the label, judge the poison—offensive weapons, military maneuvers, formation drills. Cops seize homemade explosives with fuses primed to blow, plus 3D printers churning out gun parts. This screams bomb plots and crime sprees, way beyond "training." Alarming is an understatement.

Police keep dismantling these nightmares. They've cracked explosives and firearms rings, gutted terror cells. This bust screams terrorism brewing—like the judge in the Caritas Medical Centre bomb plot warned: a straight-up war on society.

Second, some of these guys were spotted at the Tai Po blaze.

Intelligence paints a grim picture. Some arrestees lurked at Tai Po's Wang Fuk Court fire in classic 2019 anti-extradition garb. One suspect brags about using his new skills—fighting, guns, knives—to target cops and officials if riots reignite. Others trash the government online for "lousy relief," fanning hate against the SAR.

These aren't new faces. Some rioted multiple times in 2019's anti-extradition mess. Take Mr. Li: he ran a Telegram hate group plotting petrol bombs, guns, even a "massacre." Jailed 29 months for sedition and wounding conspiracy.

Out on parole by late 2024, still under supervision—one kept linking up and drilling illegally. No surprise—the Office for Safeguarding National Security called it: ulterior motives stir in crises, spewing lies to wreck relief efforts.

Foreign Shadows Loom Large?

Moreover, whether foreign funding is involved.

The Hong Kong Police Force stayed on the hunt. They'll track these plotters, make more arrests if needed. Top probe: involvement of foreign forces and money? The law slams extra time for that meddling.

History repeats. Police had already nailed three from the banned “Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union” for secession conspiracy. Fugitive founder Keung Ka-wai built a fake "army," trained recruits for "Hong Kong independence." One kid defendant of just 15, suckered into jail.

These overseas fugitives won't quit. They spew rhetoric, lure HongKong youth into the trap, biding time for "resistance." SAR government banned “Hong Kong Parliament” and the “Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union”: starves their funds, warns everyone: don't get poisoned and snared.

Bottom line: Hong Kong looks calm, but radicals churn below the surface. Stay sharp, and beware of those hell-bent on shattering the peace.

Ariel

** The blog article is the sole responsibility of the author and does not represent the position of our company. **

Let’s be honest: the narrative going into this Legislative Council election was bleak. Following the tragedy of the Tai Po fire, the pundits were out in force, predicting a turnout that would "definitely be lower than the last one." They claimed the heavy atmosphere hanging over society made a final promotional push impossible. Even the six major chambers of commerce had to scrap their voting discount campaign, further dampening the mood. The critics said it was over before it began.

But the numbers tell a different story: turnout has actually surpassed the previous election. This proves the SAR government didn't just weather the storm—they met the difficulties head-on and played a strong game against the odds.

What we witnessed here was the sheer, united mobilization of the civil service. It was more than bureaus and departments going through the motions to promote the vote; the civil servants themselves showed up. The evidence is undeniable: look at the bureaus coming out in full force with a shared mindset.

Dedication in Action: Civil servants wait in long queues at the designated polling station

If you want proof of commitment, look at the Civil Servant Designated Polling Stations (CSDPS). At their peak, these stations saw massive queues with wait times stretching up to two hours. Yet, the civil servants in line weren't complaining. That silence speaks volumes—it shows a team united in heart, contributing significant strength to secure the legitimacy of this election.
 
Logistics Win Votes
The tactical adjustments to the schedule played a massive role in this success. By opening the polls an hour early and keeping them open an hour later, the government captured the demographic that critics usually write off: commuters working long hours and travelers returning to Hong Kong. When you see that evening spike in turnout, it’s clear evidence that residents returning from the Chinese Mainland went straight to the ballot box.

The infrastructure expansion was equally critical. The government set up new "Near Boundary Polling Stations" (NBPSs) at the airport and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, deployed outreach stations for care homes, and established dedicated lines for medical staff. These weren't just gestures; they successfully converted citizens who originally found travel inconvenient—or had no intention to vote—into active participants.
 
Consider the granular handling of the situation near Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Despite the chaos of the fire forcing three polling stations to relocate, the government didn't leave residents stranded—they rolled out shuttle buses. Media interviews with fire victims confirm they used these shuttles, explicitly stating they had received government aid and viewed the new Legislative Council as vital for their future help.
 
The takeaway is clear: the government successfully tethered the election to the path of post-disaster reconstruction, convincing citizens that selecting new councilors is their fastest ticket back to normalcy.
 
An insider concluded sharply: where there is a will, there is a way. Through disciplined unity and hard work, the SAR government fought this tough election battle—and won.