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Officials in the city have detained thirteen individuals on suspected charges of manslaughter related to last week’s devastating fire, amid increasing criticism over the detentions of citizens demanding accountability.

Search Continues as Death Toll Rises

Emergency services continued to search through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court residential area in Tai Po on the start of the week, following the most fatal blaze in 75 years. The number of fatalities rose to one hundred and fifty-one and is expected to rise further as the search continues. About forty people are still unaccounted for.

Construction Work Linked to Fire’s Cause

The estate, home to almost 5,000 people, had been in the midst of extensive renovations that have been associated with the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, anger has escalated over alleged past safety violations by the construction company working at the site and lax enforcement of safety codes, fuelled by revelations that residents had been complaining about the renovations 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 “promptly initiated comprehensive investigation along the lines of manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Revealed

A senior official stated that 7 of twenty tested specimens of the scaffolding net used around the towers did not meet fire-retardant standards. Preliminary checks had found samples were compliant, but the spokesperson said the less expensive, substandard netting 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 human lives,” he said.

Civilians Arrested Amid Demands for Accountability

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

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

Reports said the student was arrested for “seditious intention”. Law enforcement did not verify the arrest, saying only that they “will act according to the situation and in accordance with the legal framework”.

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

Official Response on Arrests

Asked about the arrests, the secretary of security said there had been “misleading statements on the internet” that were aimed to threaten public security. “Therefore, we must take necessary steps, including police action,” the secretary told a media briefing. “Specifics of the operation cannot be revealed as they involve state security.”

Public Reaction and Parallels Drawn

On Hong Kong social media, people condemned the arrests of civilians. “National security must be prioritised even if the dead are still trapped 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 a user. “They are typically met with heavy sentences. Social order overrides everything.”

Another said: “Now that we are aligning with mainland China’s approach, by dealing with the person who asks questions, no one will venture to question, and therefore the city's administration will have no issues.”

Increased Scrutiny and Community Response

The detentions followed advisories by national security authorities that they would crack down on anyone deemed to be using the incident to incite “hostile” sentiment.

Prior to the detentions, authorities had already begun showing heightened sensitivity to the public reaction. Since the suppression of earlier unrest, civilian gatherings have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, volunteer supporters quickly organized relief efforts, with many individuals employing vehicles and public transport to deliver large quantities of clothes, food and other essentials for the survivors.

However, by nightfall, armed police were patrolling the area, and government officials eventually assumed control from the volunteer organisers.

The petition over which the student was reportedly detained was launched late on Friday. Its “four points” echoed the language of past campaigns but did not call for systemic reform.

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

“Should these suggestions are deemed subversive or ‘transgressive’, then I feel I cannot foresee the outcomes of any action any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is right,” he stated.