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Authorities in the city have taken into custody 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with last week’s devastating fire, amid increasing criticism over the arrests of civilians calling for responsibility.

Search Continues as Death Toll Climbs

Rescue teams continued to search through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in the Tai Po district on the start of the week, days after the city’s deadliest fire in seven and a half decades. The number of fatalities rose to 151 and is expected to rise higher as the operation goes on. Approximately forty people are still missing.

Construction Work Connected with Cause of Blaze

The estate, housing nearly five thousand people, had been undergoing major refurbishment that have been associated with the origin of the blaze. In the wake of the tragedy, anger has escalated over reported previous safety breaches by the construction company working at the location and poor oversight of standards, spurred on by revelations that residents had been complaining about the work for a year.

Those Detained Include Corporate Executives

On Monday afternoon, authorities said anti-corruption authorities had arrested 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 Uncovered

A top administrator stated that 7 of twenty tested specimens of the mesh netting used around the buildings did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Preliminary checks had found samples were compliant, but the spokesperson said the cheaper, substandard material had been put in areas hard to reach in order to avoid discovery, describing it as a “deplorable deed”.

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

Citizens Detained Amid Calls for Answers

As allegations of safety lapses grow, alongside reports that government authorities had issued multiple apparently unenforced warnings, the public have questioned why no officials have yet been held accountable. Instead, two members of the public were reportedly arrested by national security police.

One individual, named as a local student, was arrested over an internet appeal that made “four requests” for assured assistance for the affected families and responsibility for those at fault, including any negligent or culpable government officials.

Local media said the individual was detained for “inciting disaffection”. Law enforcement did not confirm 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 former district councillor.

Government Statement on Arrests

Asked about the detentions, the secretary of security said there had been “misleading statements online” that were intended to undermine national security. “Therefore, we must take necessary steps, including police action,” the official told a press conference. “Specifics of the operation cannot be disclosed as they concern state security.”

Social Media Response and Parallels Made

On local online platforms, people condemned the detention of citizens. “National security must be given precedence even if the dead are still buried in the building,” said one.

Some commenters made parallels to mainland China. “There, such acts are termed ‘creating disturbances’,” said one commenter. “They are typically met with heavy sentences. Stability trumps everything.”

A different user said: “Since we are following mainland China’s methods, by dealing with the individual who asks questions, no one will dare to ask, and therefore the city's administration will have no issues.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Volunteer Efforts

The detentions followed warnings by national security authorities that they would take action against anyone deemed to be using the incident to incite “hostile” sentiment.

Prior to the detentions, authorities had already demonstrated increased vigilance to the community response. Since the suppression of earlier unrest, public assemblies have been strictly regulated. In the immediate aftermath, volunteer supporters rapidly established relief efforts, with many individuals using vehicles and transit to bring in large quantities of clothes, supplies and other essentials for the survivors.

Nevertheless, by nightfall, officers were monitoring the vicinity, and government officials soon assumed control from the community coordinators.

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

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

“Should these suggestions are deemed seditious or ‘crossing the line’, then I feel I can’t predict the outcomes of anything any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is right,” he stated.