When university student Miles Kwan launched a petition demanding answers from Hong Kong authorities after one of the city's deadliest fires last week, he was arrested.
The ferocious blaze had ravaged a densely populated housing estate in the northern Tai Po district, killing at least 159 people and displacing thousands.
As public anger grew, the pro-Beijing authorities warned, repeatedly, against attempts to exploit the fire to endanger national security.
Kwan was reportedly arrested by Hong Kong national security police on suspicion of sedition. He is now on bail, according to local media.
Police told the BBC that it would handle any action taken in accordance with the law and the actual circumstances.
There was also a strong public reaction to the arrest. To some, the decision to arrest him was baffling. To others, it was simply Beijing's playbook, replicated. The Hong Kong government says that it's about trying to protect rule of law in a testing moment for the city.
Ronny Tong, a member of Hong Kong's Executive Council, disputed the suggestion that Hong Kongers are being suppressed. The government is trying to be prudent, he tells the BBC.
Regina Ip, another Hong Kong lawmaker, also defended the arrests as necessary safeguards against civil unrest that could mirror the 2019 protests.
Among the questions in Kwan's petition and being asked by many citizens include how the fire could have swept through the buildings so rapidly and whether any government officials should be held accountable.
Kwan's petition, which listed four demands gathered more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before it was taken down.
Days later, city's leader John Lee pledged to provide aid to victims and mentioned the formation of an independent committee to investigate the blaze. However, critics argue that these actions came too late and highlighted the government's reluctance to accept accountability for its failures.
Authorities have also arrested 15 individuals on suspicion of manslaughter, indicating broader concerns about safety regulations following the tragedy.
Commentary from residents suggests that the government's response has only increased the public's desire for transparency and justice.
In closing remarks at a recent press conference, John Lee stated, Yes, it is a tragedy; it is a big fire. Yes, we need a reform. Yet, the call for justice and clarity surrounding the incident remains urgent and unresolved in the public's eyes.
