Hundreds of Hong Kongers and Taiwanese gathered in Taipei to mourn the 159 people killed and the hundreds injured in the Wang Fuk Court fire in late November. While most came simply to grieve, others expressed frustration over political pressure surrounding discussion of the tragedy.
00:00Here at Taipei's Liberty Plaza, people are remembering the victims of last week's devastating fire in Hong Kong,
00:06laying down flowers in tribute to the scores of people killed.
00:10At least 159 people died and hundreds remain missing
00:14after one of the biggest fires in the city's history ripped through the Wang Fu Court apartment complex.
00:20In Taipei, prayers were folded into origami cranes and placed in the shape of Hong Kong.
00:25Organizers say the vigil gives Hong Kongers a place to come together and mourn.
00:31It is a global leader for Hong Kong.
00:34Some Taiwanese people don't know what their name is.
00:37Many of them have a half of Hong Kong people.
00:40They are very similar to Hong Kong.
00:43I believe that at this moment, there must be people to stand out and have a space to be together.
00:49And while the mood here is solemn,
00:53anger and frustration lay just beneath the surface.
00:57Taiwan is home to a large community of Hong Kongers,
01:01many of whom came after China clamped down on the city's freedoms.
01:05Some attendees said while they want justice for the fire victims,
01:08they are afraid to speak up because of pressure from Beijing.
01:11Actually, it is a lot of fun.
01:14It is a lot of fun.
01:15Because at the beginning, our first goal is to help some residents
01:20to achieve their own rights or their own rights.
01:23And to understand the fact that this is true.
01:25But the result, it seems to be like,
01:27it seems to be like, it seems to be like, it seems to be like, it seems to be政治-like.
01:30The first day I was very happy because there are friends and friends who live in the room.
01:37Then the second day I had a phone call and friends who left me.
01:44And some of the students said that there are people who are not talking about this.
01:50They don't want to talk about this.
01:54On Saturday night, politics took a backseat in Taipei, as attendees from Hong Kong and Taiwan remember those injured were killed.
02:19This downtown plaza has witnessed countless protests and vigils, and now is offering a safe place for people whose heartbreak for the tragedy in Hong Kong to heal in solidarity.
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