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Officials in the city have taken into custody 13 people on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter in connection with last week’s catastrophic blaze, amid increasing criticism over the arrests of citizens calling for responsibility.

Search Continues as Death Toll Climbs

Emergency services persisted in combing through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court residential area in Tai Po on the start of the week, following the city’s deadliest fire in seven and a half decades. The death toll rose to one hundred and fifty-one and is expected to rise further as the operation continues. Approximately 40 people are currently missing.

Construction Work Connected with Cause of Blaze

The estate, housing nearly 5,000 people, had been in the midst of major refurbishment that have been linked to the fire’s cause. In the aftermath, anger has escalated over reported previous safety breaches by the construction company working at the location and lax enforcement of safety codes, spurred on by disclosures that residents had been complaining about the work for a twelve months.

Those Detained Include Company Directors

On Monday afternoon, authorities said the anti-graft agency had detained thirteen people over the tragedy so far, including the executives and an technical advisor of a contracting firm, and had “immediately begun a thorough probe along the lines of involuntary manslaughter”.

Substandard Materials Revealed

A senior official stated that 7 of 20 tested samples of the scaffolding net used around the towers did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Initial testing had found samples were compliant, but the official said the cheaper, substandard material had been put in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, describing it as a “shameful act”.

“They just wanted to profit at the cost of human lives,” he said.

Civilians Arrested Amid Calls for Accountability

As allegations of safety violations mount, alongside reports that official bodies had issued several apparently ignored cautions, residents have questioned why no officials have yet faced consequences. Instead, two members of the public were allegedly arrested by security forces.

A person, named as a local student, was arrested over an internet appeal that made “four demands” for guaranteed support for the affected families and accountability for those at to blame, including any negligent or responsible government officials.

Local media said the student was arrested for “seditious intention”. Police did not verify the detention, 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 arrests, the security chief said there had been “misleading statements on the internet” that were intended to undermine national security. “Therefore, we must take appropriate measures, including law enforcement measures,” the secretary told a press conference. “Specifics of the operation cannot be revealed as they concern national security.”

Public Reaction and Parallels Drawn

On Hong Kong social media, people condemned the detention of citizens. “National security must be given precedence even if the victims are still buried in the building,” said one.

Several users drew comparisons to the Chinese mainland. “The mainland, such acts are called ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said one commenter. “They are typically met with severe penalties. Social order overrides everything.”

A different user said: “Since we are aligning with the mainland’s approach, by targeting the person who asks questions, nobody will venture to question, and thus the city's administration will have no issues.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Volunteer Efforts

The detentions followed advisories by security officials that they would crack down on anyone considered to be using the incident to incite “anti-China” sentiment.

Before the arrests, officials had already demonstrated heightened sensitivity to the community response. Following the suppression of earlier protests, public assemblies have been strictly regulated. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers rapidly established relief efforts, with many individuals using vehicles and transit to deliver mountains of clothes, supplies and other necessities for the victims.

Nevertheless, by evening, officers were monitoring the vicinity, and government officials soon assumed control from the volunteer organisers.

The petition over which the student was allegedly arrested was launched on Friday evening. Its “four demands” mirrored the language of previous campaigns but did not advocate systemic reform.

The student informed reporters that he was only “proposing fundamental requests”.

“If these ideas are deemed subversive or ‘transgressive’, then I believe I cannot foresee the consequences of any action any more, and I can only do what I sincerely think is correct,” he stated.