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Officials in the city have taken into custody 13 individuals on suspicion of manslaughter related to last week’s catastrophic blaze, amidst increasing public outcry over the arrests of citizens demanding responsibility.

Ongoing Rescue Operations as Death Toll Climbs

Rescue teams continued to search through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in the Tai Po district on the start of the week, days after the city’s deadliest fire in 75 years. The death toll rose to 151 and is expected to rise further as the search continues. Approximately 40 people are still unaccounted for.

Construction Work Linked to Cause of Blaze

The housing complex, home to almost five thousand people, had been in the midst of major refurbishment that have been associated with the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, anger has grown over alleged previous safety breaches by the contractor working at the location and poor oversight of safety codes, fuelled by disclosures that residents had been complaining about the renovations for a twelve months.

Arrests Include Corporate Executives

On Monday afternoon, authorities said anti-corruption authorities had arrested thirteen people over the disaster so far, including the executives and an engineering consultant of a construction company, and had “immediately begun a thorough probe along the lines of involuntary manslaughter”.

Substandard Materials Uncovered

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 samples were up to code, but the spokesperson said the less expensive, noncompliant material had been put in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, describing it as a “deplorable deed”.

“Their sole aim was to make money at the cost of human lives,” the official stated.

Citizens Detained Amid Demands for Accountability

As allegations of safety lapses mount, alongside reports that official bodies had issued several seemingly ignored cautions, the public have questioned why no officials have yet faced consequences. Conversely, two civilians were reportedly taken into custody by security forces.

A person, named as a Hong Kong student, was arrested over an internet appeal that made “four demands” for assured assistance for the affected families and responsibility for those at fault, including any negligent or responsible government officials.

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

Local media also reported the detention of a ex-local representative.

Official Response on Detentions

Questioned about the detentions, the security chief said there had been “misleading statements online” that were aimed to threaten public security. “Therefore, we must take appropriate measures, including police action,” the official told a press conference. “Specifics of the operation cannot be disclosed as they concern national security.”

Public Reaction and Parallels Made

On Hong Kong social media, people criticised the arrests of civilians. “National security must be prioritised even if the dead are still buried in the structure,” said a comment.

Several users made parallels to the Chinese mainland. “There, such acts are called ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said a user. “They are typically punished with heavy sentences. Stability overrides everything.”

Another said: “Now that we are aligning with mainland China’s methods, by dealing with the person who asks questions, nobody will venture to question, and thus the city's administration will have no problems.”

Increased Scrutiny and Volunteer Efforts

The detentions followed warnings by national security authorities that they would take action against anyone considered to be using the incident to stir up “anti-China” feelings.

Before the detentions, authorities had already begun showing increased vigilance to the public reaction. Since the quelling of earlier unrest, public assemblies have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, volunteer supporters quickly organized relief efforts, with hundreds of people employing vehicles and transit to deliver mountains of clothes, supplies and other essentials for the victims.

Nevertheless, by evening, armed police were patrolling the area, and public authorities eventually took over from the community coordinators.

The petition over which the student was allegedly arrested was initiated late on Friday. Its “four points” mirrored the terminology of past campaigns but did not advocate systemic reform.

The student told media that he was only “proposing very basic requests”.

“Should these suggestions are considered subversive or ‘transgressive’, then I feel I can’t predict the outcomes of any action any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is right,” he said.