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Authorities in the city have taken into custody 13 individuals on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the recent devastating fire, amid increasing criticism over the detentions of citizens calling for responsibility.

Ongoing Rescue Operations as Fatalities Climbs

Emergency services persisted in combing through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in the Tai Po district on the start of the week, days after the most fatal blaze in seven and a half decades. The death toll reached 151 and is anticipated to climb further as the search continues. About 40 people are still missing.

Construction Work Linked to Cause of Blaze

The estate, housing nearly five thousand people, had been in the midst of extensive renovations that have been linked to the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, anger has escalated over alleged past safety violations by the construction company working at the site and lax enforcement of standards, fuelled by disclosures that residents had been voicing concerns over the renovations for a twelve months.

Arrests Include Company Directors

On Monday afternoon, authorities said the anti-graft agency had detained 13 people over the tragedy so far, including the executives and an engineering consultant of a contracting firm, and had “immediately begun comprehensive investigation along the lines of involuntary manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Revealed

A top administrator stated that 7 of 20 tested samples of the mesh netting used around the buildings did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Initial testing had found materials were up to code, but the official said the less expensive, noncompliant netting 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.

Civilians Arrested Amid Demands for Accountability

As allegations of safety lapses grow, alongside reports that government authorities had issued multiple seemingly ignored cautions, the public have questioned why no officials have yet been held accountable. Instead, two civilians were allegedly arrested by national security police.

One individual, named as a Hong Kong student, was detained over an online petition that made “four requests” for guaranteed support for the affected families and responsibility for those at to blame, including any negligent or culpable government officials.

Reports said the individual was arrested for “seditious intention”. Police did not verify the arrest, saying only that they “will take actions according to actual circumstances and in compliance with the law”.

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

Official Response on Detentions

Questioned about the detentions, the security chief said there had been “misleading statements on the internet” that were intended to threaten public security. “Therefore, we must take appropriate measures, including police action,” the official told a press conference. “Operational details cannot be revealed as they involve national security.”

Social Media Response and Comparisons Drawn

On Hong Kong social media, people condemned the detention of citizens. “State security must be given precedence even if the dead are still buried in the structure,” said a comment.

Several users made parallels to mainland China. “The mainland, these crimes are termed ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said one commenter. “It’s usually met with heavy sentences. Social order overrides everything.”

A different user said: “Now that we are following mainland China’s methods, by targeting the individual who asks questions, nobody will dare to ask, and thus the city's administration will have no problems.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Community Response

The arrests followed warnings by national security authorities that they would take action against anyone considered to be exploiting the incident to incite “anti-China” feelings.

Before the arrests, officials had already demonstrated increased vigilance to the community response. Since the quelling of earlier unrest, civilian gatherings have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers quickly organized relief efforts, with many individuals using vehicles and public transport to deliver mountains of clothes, food and other necessities for the survivors.

However, by evening, armed police were patrolling the vicinity, and government officials eventually assumed control from the community coordinators.

The petition over which the individual was reportedly detained was initiated late on Friday. Its “four demands” mirrored the terminology of past campaigns but did not call for systemic reform.

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

“If these ideas are deemed seditious or ‘crossing the line’, then I feel I cannot foresee the outcomes of anything any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is right,” he said.