Did Hong Kong¡¯s crackdown on the free press lay the kindling for last week¡¯s massive fire that killed at least 151 people in the former British colony?

Yes, absolutely.

Many of the 4,800 people who lived in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex knew about problems in a huge renovation project that saw building towers wrapped in plastic netting and windows filled with foam. They complained about unsafe workplace practices ranging from the widespread use of the flammable foam panels and netting to workers smoking on site.