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Officials in the city have taken into custody 13 individuals on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with last week’s devastating fire, amidst growing public outcry over the detentions of citizens demanding responsibility.

Ongoing Rescue Operations as Death Toll Rises

Emergency services continued to search through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po on the start of the week, following the city’s deadliest fire in 75 years. The death toll rose to one hundred and fifty-one and is expected to rise further as the operation goes on. Approximately 40 people are still unaccounted for.

Construction Work Linked to Cause of Blaze

The estate, housing almost five thousand 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 site and lax enforcement of safety codes, fuelled by disclosures that occupants had been voicing concerns over the work for a year.

Those Detained Include Corporate Executives

On Monday afternoon, officials said the anti-graft agency had arrested 13 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 manslaughter”.

Substandard Materials Revealed

A top administrator stated that seven of 20 tested specimens of the mesh netting used around the buildings did not meet fire-retardant standards. Initial testing had found samples were up to code, but the official said the cheaper, noncompliant material had been installed in areas difficult to access in order to evade detection, describing it as a “deplorable deed”.

“They just wanted to make money at the expense of people’s lives,” he said.

Civilians Arrested Amid Demands for Answers

As accusations of safety lapses mount, alongside revelations that official bodies had issued multiple seemingly unenforced warnings, residents have questioned why no officials have yet been held accountable. Instead, two civilians were reportedly arrested by security forces.

One individual, identified as a Hong Kong student, was detained over an online petition that made “four requests” for guaranteed support for the victims and responsibility for those at fault, including any negligent or culpable public servants.

Local media said the individual was detained for “seditious intention”. Law enforcement did not confirm the detention, saying only that they “will act according to the situation and in accordance with the law”.

Local media also covered the arrest of a ex-local representative.

Government Statement on Detentions

Questioned about the arrests, the security chief said there had been “misleading statements online” that were aimed to undermine public security. “As a result, we must take necessary steps, including law enforcement measures,” the secretary told a press conference. “Specifics of the operation cannot be revealed as they concern national security.”

Social Media Response and Parallels Made

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

Some commenters drew comparisons to the Chinese mainland. “The mainland, such acts are called ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said a user. “It’s usually punished with heavy sentences. Social order trumps everything.”

A different user said: “Now that we are aligning with mainland China’s approach, by dealing with the individual who raises the question, nobody will dare to ask, and therefore Hong Kong’s governance will have no problems.”

Increased Scrutiny and Community Response

The detentions came after advisories by security officials that they would crack down on anyone deemed to be using the tragedy to incite “anti-China” feelings.

Before the arrests, authorities had already begun showing heightened sensitivity to the public reaction. Since the quelling of earlier unrest, public assemblies have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers quickly organized relief efforts, with many individuals employing vehicles and transit to deliver mountains of garments, supplies and other essentials for the victims.

Nevertheless, by evening, officers were patrolling the area, and government officials soon assumed control from the community coordinators.

The appeal over which the individual was allegedly detained was initiated late on Friday. Its “four points” echoed the language of previous protest movements but did not call for systemic reform.

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

“Should these suggestions are deemed subversive or ‘crossing the line’, then I believe I can’t predict the consequences of any action any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is correct,” he said.