Hong Kong authorities summoned international news organisations to a rare meeting on Dec 6 to warn against “false information and smear campaigns” surrounding the city’s deadliest fire in nearly eight decades and upcoming legislative elections.

The Office for Safeguarding National Security said some recent reports by foreign media have “disregarded facts, spread false information” and “incited social division and confrontation.”

An official at the meeting, which included journalists from Bloomberg News, used a Chinese phrase equivalent to “do not say you have not been warned”.

The meeting came about a week and a half after

the deadly blaze at a Hong Kong housing estate

triggered a level of public anger unseen in Hong Kong since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020. The city is holding legislative elections on Dec 7 that will be closely watched for turnout.

Participation fell to a record 30.2 per cent in the 2021 LegCo race.

Hong Kong chief executive John Lee, who pledged to launch an independent committee over the fire that killed at least 159 people, has said he decided to proceed with the vote as scheduled to “safeguard social stability.”

The city observed three days of mourning and temporarily suspended election campaigns after the blaze, which drew international headlines and prompted Chinese President Xi Jinping to

order officials to prioritise rescue efforts

.