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Authorities in the city have detained 13 people on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter related to the recent devastating fire, amid increasing public outcry over the detentions of citizens demanding responsibility.

Ongoing Rescue Operations as Fatalities Climbs

Rescue teams continued to search through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court residential area 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 goes on. Approximately 40 people are currently missing.

Renovations Linked to Fire’s Cause

The housing complex, housing nearly five thousand people, had been undergoing major refurbishment that have been associated with the fire’s cause. In the wake of the tragedy, public fury has grown over reported past safety violations by the construction company working at the location and lax enforcement of standards, fuelled by disclosures that residents had been complaining about the renovations for a twelve months.

Arrests Include Company Directors

On Monday afternoon, officials said the anti-graft agency had arrested thirteen people over the disaster so far, including the directors and an engineering consultant of a construction company, and had “promptly initiated a thorough probe along the lines of involuntary manslaughter”.

Substandard Materials Revealed

A senior official stated that 7 of twenty tested specimens of the scaffolding net used around the buildings did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Preliminary checks had found samples were compliant, but the official said the less expensive, substandard material had been installed in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, describing it as a “deplorable deed”.

“Their sole aim was to profit at the cost of people’s lives,” the official stated.

Citizens Arrested Amid Demands for Answers

As accusations of safety lapses grow, alongside reports that government authorities had issued several apparently unenforced warnings, residents have asked why no officials have yet faced consequences. Conversely, two members of the public were reportedly taken into custody by national security police.

One individual, identified as a Hong Kong student, was detained over an internet appeal that made “four requests” for assured assistance for the affected families and accountability for those at to blame, including any corrupt or responsible public servants.

Reports said the student was arrested for “seditious intention”. Police did not confirm the arrest, saying only that they “will act according to actual circumstances and in accordance with the legal framework”.

Local media also reported the arrest of a former district councillor.

Official Response on Arrests

Asked about the arrests, the security chief said there had been “inaccurate comments on the internet” that were aimed to undermine national security. “As a result, we must take necessary steps, including law enforcement measures,” the official told a media briefing. “Specifics of the operation cannot be disclosed as they concern national security.”

Social Media Response and Parallels Drawn

On local online platforms, people criticised the arrests of civilians. “State security must be prioritised even if the dead are still buried in the structure,” said one.

Several users drew comparisons to mainland China. “There, these crimes are termed ‘creating disturbances’,” said one commenter. “They are typically met with severe penalties. Stability overrides everything.”

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

Heightened Sensitivity and Community Response

The detentions came after advisories by security officials that they would take action against anyone deemed to be exploiting the incident to incite “hostile” feelings.

Prior to the arrests, authorities had already begun showing increased vigilance to the community response. Since the suppression of earlier protests, civilian gatherings have been strictly regulated. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers quickly organized aid operations, with hundreds of people employing cars and public transport to bring in mountains of clothes, food and other essentials for the victims.

However, by nightfall, armed police were monitoring the area, and public authorities eventually assumed control from the community coordinators.

The appeal over which the individual was allegedly detained was initiated late on Friday. Its “four demands” echoed the terminology of previous protest movements but did not advocate political change.

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

“Should these suggestions are considered subversive or ‘crossing the line’, then I believe I cannot foresee the outcomes of anything any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is correct,” he stated.