Hong Kong must show real remorse for the Tai Po fire tragedy

When Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and seven principal officials bowed deeply before the cameras on October 29, Hong Kong witnessed something rare: a collective government apology. It came 11 months after the Wang Fuk Court fire claimed 168 lives and uprooted 1,984 households.

A minister has resigned. Many reforms have been promised.

Yet public reaction remains divided. That division reveals what people expect an apology to achieve, and how differently they understand political...