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Officials in the city have detained 13 individuals on suspected charges of manslaughter in connection with last week’s catastrophic blaze, amidst increasing public outcry over the detentions of citizens demanding responsibility.

Ongoing Rescue Operations as Fatalities Climbs

Rescue teams persisted in combing through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po on the start of the week, following the city’s deadliest fire in seven and a half decades. The number of fatalities rose to 151 and is expected to rise further as the search goes on. About 40 people are still unaccounted for.

Construction Work Connected with Cause of Blaze

The housing complex, housing almost 5,000 people, had been undergoing extensive renovations that have been linked to the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, anger has grown over alleged past safety violations by the construction company working at the location and poor oversight of standards, spurred on by disclosures that residents had been complaining about the renovations for a year.

Arrests Include Company Directors

On Monday afternoon, authorities said the anti-graft agency had arrested 13 people over the disaster so far, including the directors and an engineering consultant of a construction company, and had “immediately begun comprehensive investigation along the lines of involuntary manslaughter”.

Substandard Materials Revealed

A senior official stated that 7 of twenty tested samples of the mesh netting used around the buildings did not meet fire-retardant standards. Preliminary checks had found materials were up to code, but the spokesperson said the less expensive, substandard material had been installed in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, describing it as a “shameful act”.

“Their sole aim was to make money at the expense of human lives,” he said.

Citizens Detained Amid Calls for Answers

As accusations of safety lapses grow, alongside revelations that government authorities had issued multiple apparently unenforced warnings, the public have questioned why no officials have yet been held accountable. Instead, two civilians were reportedly arrested by national security police.

One individual, named as a local student, was arrested over an online petition that made “four requests” for guaranteed support for the victims and accountability for those at to blame, including any negligent or responsible public servants.

Local media said the student was arrested for “seditious intention”. Police did not confirm the detention, saying only that they “will act according to actual circumstances and in accordance with the law”.

News outlets also covered the arrest of a former district councillor.

Official Response on Detentions

Questioned about the arrests, the security chief said there had been “misleading statements online” that were intended to threaten national security. “As a result, we must take necessary steps, including law enforcement measures,” the secretary told a press conference. “Operational details cannot be revealed as they concern state security.”

Social Media Response and Comparisons Made

On Hong Kong social media, people criticised the detention of citizens. “National security must be prioritised even if the victims are still trapped in the structure,” said a comment.

Some commenters drew comparisons to mainland China. “There, such acts are called ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said one commenter. “They are typically met with severe penalties. Social order overrides everything.”

A different user said: “Since we are aligning with the mainland’s approach, by dealing with the person who raises the question, nobody will venture to question, and thus Hong Kong’s governance will have no problems.”

Increased Scrutiny and Community Response

The detentions followed warnings by national security authorities that they would crack down on anyone deemed to be exploiting the incident to incite “hostile” sentiment.

Before the arrests, authorities had already begun showing increased vigilance to the public reaction. Following the suppression of earlier protests, civilian gatherings have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers rapidly established relief efforts, with hundreds of people employing vehicles and transit to bring in mountains of clothes, supplies and other essentials for the victims.

However, by evening, officers were patrolling the vicinity, and public authorities soon took over from the volunteer organisers.

The appeal over which the student was allegedly detained was launched late on Friday. Its “four demands” echoed the terminology of past protest movements but did not advocate political change.

The individual told reporters that he was only “proposing fundamental demands”.

“Should these suggestions are deemed seditious or ‘crossing the line’, then I believe I cannot foresee the outcomes of anything any more, and I can only do what I sincerely think is right,” he stated.