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Officials in the city have taken into custody thirteen people on suspected charges of involuntary manslaughter related to last week’s catastrophic blaze, amidst growing public outcry over the detentions of civilians demanding accountability.

Search Continues as Fatalities Climbs

Emergency services persisted in combing through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court residential area in Tai Po on Monday, days after the most fatal blaze in seven and a half decades. The number of fatalities reached one hundred and fifty-one and is expected to rise further as the search continues. Approximately forty people are currently missing.

Renovations Linked to Cause of Blaze

The estate, home to nearly 5,000 people, had been in the midst of major refurbishment that have been linked to the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, public fury has grown over alleged past safety violations by the contractor working at the location and poor oversight of standards, spurred on by disclosures that residents had been complaining about the renovations for a twelve months.

Arrests Include Corporate Executives

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 construction company, and had “immediately begun comprehensive investigation along the lines of manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Revealed

A top administrator stated that seven of twenty tested samples of the scaffolding net used around the towers did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Preliminary checks had found samples were compliant, but the official said the cheaper, substandard netting had been installed in areas hard to reach in order to avoid discovery, describing it as a “shameful act”.

“They just wanted to make money at the expense of human lives,” the official stated.

Civilians Arrested Amid Calls for Accountability

As accusations of safety lapses mount, alongside reports that government authorities had issued several apparently unenforced warnings, residents have questioned why no government figures have yet been held accountable. Conversely, two civilians were allegedly arrested by security forces.

One individual, identified as a local student, was arrested over an online petition that made “four requests” for assured assistance for the victims and accountability for those at to blame, including any negligent or responsible government officials.

Reports said the student was detained for “seditious intention”. Law enforcement did not confirm the arrest, saying only that they “will act according to actual circumstances and in compliance with the law”.

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

Government Statement on Arrests

Questioned about the arrests, the security chief said there had been “inaccurate comments online” that were aimed to threaten public security. “Therefore, we must take appropriate measures, including police action,” the official told a media briefing. “Specifics of the operation cannot be disclosed as they involve national security.”

Public Reaction and Comparisons Drawn

On local online platforms, 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.

Some commenters made parallels to mainland China. “There, such acts are called ‘creating disturbances’,” said a user. “It’s usually 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.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Volunteer Efforts

The detentions came after warnings by national security authorities that they would crack down on anyone deemed to be exploiting the tragedy to stir up “hostile” sentiment.

Before the arrests, authorities had already begun showing heightened sensitivity to the public reaction. Since the quelling of earlier protests, public assemblies have been tightly controlled. In the days following the fire, volunteer supporters quickly organized relief efforts, with many individuals employing vehicles and public transport to bring in large quantities of garments, supplies and other essentials for the victims.

Nevertheless, by nightfall, armed police were monitoring the vicinity, and government officials eventually took over from the volunteer organisers.

The petition over which the individual was allegedly detained was launched on Friday evening. Its “four demands” echoed the terminology of previous protest movements but did not call for systemic reform.

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

“If these ideas are deemed seditious 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 right,” he said.