• China's national security office met with foreign media, warning against "false information."
• The fire at Wang Fuk Court killed at least 159 people, the deadliest in nearly 80 years.
• The warning occurs ahead of Hong Kong's legislative council election.
• Authorities criticize media for allegedly provoking social division through their coverage.
• This is the first time foreign media have been called for such a meeting by Beijing authorities.

Beijing's national security office in Hong Kong warned foreign media representatives on Saturday against spreading "false information" related to the government's response to the recent deadly fire at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, which took at least 159 lives, marking the city's most tragic incident in nearly 80 years. According to sources, this meeting involved various media outlets including Agence France-Presse, Financial Times, and The New York Times, among others, signaling a significant intervention by Chinese authorities concerning media reporting in the region, according to SCMP and Reuters.

The national security office criticized foreign media for allegedly distorting and smearing the government's disaster relief efforts and interfering with the upcoming legislative council election. They stated that media reports have provoked social division and that such conduct would not be tolerated. Officials emphasized that these actions could undermine social stability amid the ongoing recovery from the fire, according to Channel News Asia and Dawn.

This meeting marks a notable escalation in the scrutiny of foreign media by the authorities, especially considering the restrictive national security law imposed in 2020 following mass pro-democracy protests. The law allows the Office for Safeguarding National Security to oversee foreign entities, including media outlets, and signals the government’s intent to manage narratives around sensitive events and maintain control over public discourse, according to SCMP and Reuters.

The Hong Kong government reiterated its commitment to ensuring media accountability, specifically highlighting that the press should not exploit tragic events to push a political agenda. Authorities have expressed the need for journalists to adhere to local laws and mentioned that any reporting must be conducted ethically without attempts to fabricate or misrepresent facts, which underscores the ongoing tensions between media freedom and governmental oversight in the region, according to Channel News Asia and Dawn.