Hong Kong will proceed with its Legislative Council elections this Sunday, just days after suffering its deadliest fire in decades that has killed at least 156 people.
00:00Just days after Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades, the city's government says legislative council elections will go ahead as scheduled on Sunday.
00:09A heavy police presence and low voter turnout are expected for the poll, the second since 2021 reforms allowed only pro-Beijing patriots to run.
00:20The vote comes as the city shifts quickly from national mourning to a highly anticipated political exercise,
00:27seen by analysts and residents as a test for the government's legitimacy amid public anger over the fire and ongoing national security crackdowns.
00:37Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said holding the election would allow newly elected legislators to act quickly on post-disaster reconstruction and reforms.
00:47But the vote may be far from the minds of those who lost loved ones.
00:51With the death toll of the fire reaching 156 and public outrage remaining high over the government's response.
01:00Initial investigations suggest it spread rapidly due to non-fire-retardant materials,
01:06including green netting and highly flammable foam panels used in renovations.
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