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Authorities in the city have taken into custody 13 people on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter in connection with last week’s devastating fire, amidst growing public outcry over the detentions of civilians calling for responsibility.

Search Continues as Death Toll Rises

Emergency services continued to search through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court residential area in the Tai Po district on the start of the week, days after the city’s deadliest fire in seven and a half decades. The number of fatalities reached 151 and is expected to rise further as the search continues. Approximately forty people are currently missing.

Construction Work Connected with Fire’s Cause

The estate, home to almost 5,000 people, had been undergoing extensive renovations that have been linked to the fire’s cause. In the wake of the tragedy, public fury has escalated over alleged past safety violations by the contractor working at the site and lax enforcement of standards, fuelled by disclosures that residents had been voicing concerns over the work for a twelve months.

Arrests Include Company Directors

On Monday afternoon, officials 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”.

Substandard Materials Revealed

A senior official stated that 7 of 20 tested samples of the mesh netting used around the towers did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Initial testing had found materials were up to code, but the spokesperson said the less expensive, noncompliant netting had been installed in areas hard to reach in order to avoid discovery, labeling it a “deplorable deed”.

“They just wanted to profit at the cost of human lives,” the official stated.

Civilians Arrested Amid Demands for Answers

As allegations of safety lapses mount, alongside reports that official bodies had issued multiple seemingly ignored cautions, the public have questioned why no government figures have yet been held accountable. Instead, two civilians were reportedly taken into custody by security forces.

One individual, identified as a Hong Kong student, was detained over an internet appeal that made “four requests” for guaranteed support for the victims and accountability for those at to blame, including any negligent or responsible government officials.

Reports said the individual was arrested for “inciting disaffection”. Police did not confirm the arrest, saying only that they “will act according to actual circumstances and in compliance with the legal framework”.

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 “inaccurate comments on the internet” that were intended to threaten 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 disclosed as they involve national security.”

Social Media Response and Comparisons Made

On local online platforms, people condemned the arrests of civilians. “National security must be prioritised even if the victims are still buried in the building,” said a comment.

Several users made parallels to the Chinese mainland. “The mainland, such acts are called ‘creating disturbances’,” said a user. “They are typically met with severe penalties. Social order overrides everything.”

Another said: “Since we are aligning with mainland China’s approach, by dealing with the individual who asks questions, nobody will dare to ask, and thus the city's administration will have no problems.”

Increased Scrutiny and Volunteer Efforts

The arrests followed advisories by security officials that they would crack down on anyone deemed to be exploiting the tragedy to incite “anti-China” feelings.

Before the arrests, authorities had already begun showing heightened sensitivity to the public reaction. Since the suppression of earlier protests, public assemblies have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers quickly organized relief efforts, with many individuals employing cars and transit to deliver large quantities of clothes, supplies and other necessities for the survivors.

However, by nightfall, officers were patrolling the vicinity, and public authorities eventually assumed control from the community coordinators.

The appeal over which the student was reportedly detained was initiated late on Friday. Its “four points” echoed the language of previous campaigns but did not advocate political change.

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

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