🔗 Share this article

Officials in the city have detained thirteen individuals on suspected charges of involuntary manslaughter related to the recent devastating fire, amid increasing public outcry over the arrests of citizens demanding responsibility.

Search Continues as Death Toll Rises

Rescue teams persisted in combing through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in the Tai Po district on the start of the week, following the city’s deadliest fire in 75 years. The death toll reached 151 and is expected to rise higher as the operation continues. Approximately 40 people are currently missing.

Renovations Linked to Cause of Blaze

The housing complex, home to almost five thousand people, had been in the midst of major refurbishment that have been associated with the fire’s cause. In the wake of the tragedy, public fury has grown over alleged past safety violations by the contractor working at the location and poor oversight of safety codes, spurred on by revelations that occupants had been complaining about the renovations for a year.

Those Detained Include Company Directors

On the afternoon of Monday, authorities said anti-corruption authorities had detained 13 people over the tragedy so far, including the executives and an engineering consultant of a construction company, and had “promptly initiated a thorough probe along the lines of involuntary manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Revealed

A senior official stated that seven of 20 tested specimens of the mesh netting used around the buildings did not meet fire-retardant standards. Initial testing had found samples were compliant, but the official said the cheaper, noncompliant material had been installed in areas difficult to access in order to evade detection, labeling it a “shameful act”.

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

Civilians Arrested Amid Calls for Accountability

As allegations of safety lapses mount, alongside revelations that official bodies had issued multiple apparently unenforced warnings, the public have questioned why no officials have yet been held accountable. Instead, two civilians were reportedly taken into custody by security forces.

One individual, named 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 corrupt or culpable public servants.

Local media said the student was arrested for “inciting disaffection”. Law enforcement did not verify the arrest, saying only that they “will take actions according to the situation and in accordance with the legal framework”.

Local media also reported the detention of a ex-local representative.

Official Response on Detentions

Asked about the detentions, the security chief said there had been “inaccurate comments online” that were intended to undermine national security. “Therefore, we must take necessary steps, including law enforcement measures,” the secretary told a media briefing. “Operational details cannot be disclosed as they involve state security.”

Social Media Response and Parallels Made

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

Several users made parallels to mainland China. “There, such acts are termed ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said one commenter. “It’s usually punished with heavy sentences. Social order trumps everything.”

Another said: “Now that we are following mainland China’s approach, by dealing with the individual who raises the question, no one will dare to ask, and therefore Hong Kong’s governance will have no issues.”

Increased Scrutiny and Community Response

The detentions followed advisories by national security authorities that they would crack down on anyone considered to be exploiting the incident to stir up “hostile” sentiment.

Prior to the detentions, authorities had already begun showing increased vigilance to the community response. Since the suppression of earlier unrest, civilian gatherings have been strictly regulated. In the immediate aftermath, volunteer supporters rapidly established relief efforts, with hundreds of people employing vehicles and transit to deliver large quantities of garments, supplies and other essentials for the victims.

Nevertheless, by evening, officers were patrolling the area, and government officials eventually assumed control from the community coordinators.

The appeal over which the student was allegedly arrested was initiated late on Friday. Its “four demands” mirrored the language of previous protest movements but did not call for systemic reform.

The individual informed media that he was only “proposing fundamental requests”.

“If these ideas are deemed seditious or ‘transgressive’, then I believe I can’t predict the consequences of anything any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is right,” he said.