🔗 Share this article

Officials in the city have detained thirteen individuals on suspected charges of manslaughter related to the recent catastrophic blaze, amid increasing public outcry over the arrests of civilians calling for responsibility.

Ongoing Rescue Operations as Death Toll Rises

Rescue teams continued to search through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in the Tai Po district on Monday, following the city’s deadliest fire in 75 years. The death toll rose to 151 and is anticipated to climb further as the operation goes on. Approximately 40 people are currently missing.

Construction Work Linked to Cause of Blaze

The housing complex, housing almost five thousand people, had been in the midst of major refurbishment that have been linked to the fire’s cause. In the wake of the tragedy, anger has grown over reported past safety violations by the construction company working at the location and lax enforcement of safety codes, fuelled by revelations that residents had been voicing concerns over the work for a year.

Those Detained Include Company Directors

On the afternoon of Monday, authorities said anti-corruption authorities had arrested 13 people over the disaster so far, including the directors and an engineering consultant of a contracting firm, and had “promptly initiated comprehensive investigation along the lines of manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Revealed

A senior official stated that seven of 20 tested specimens of the mesh netting used around the towers did not meet fire-retardant standards. Preliminary checks had found samples were up to code, but the official said the less expensive, noncompliant netting had been put in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, describing it as a “deplorable deed”.

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

Citizens Arrested Amid Calls for Answers

As accusations of safety violations mount, alongside revelations that official bodies had issued multiple seemingly ignored cautions, the public have questioned why no government figures have yet been held accountable. Instead, two civilians were allegedly arrested by national security police.

One individual, identified as a local student, was arrested over an online petition that made “four requests” for assured assistance for the affected families and accountability for those at fault, including any corrupt or culpable public servants.

Reports said the student was detained for “inciting disaffection”. Law enforcement did not confirm the detention, saying only that they “will take actions according to actual circumstances and in accordance with the law”.

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

Official Response on Detentions

Asked about the arrests, the secretary of security said there had been “inaccurate comments online” that were aimed to undermine national security. “Therefore, we must take necessary steps, including law enforcement measures,” the official told a press conference. “Operational details cannot be revealed as they involve national security.”

Public Reaction and Parallels Drawn

On Hong Kong social media, people criticised the arrests of civilians. “National security must be given precedence even if the dead are still buried in the structure,” said one.

Some commenters made parallels to the Chinese mainland. “The mainland, these crimes are called ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said one commenter. “They are typically met with heavy sentences. Stability trumps everything.”

Another said: “Since we are following mainland China’s approach, by dealing with the individual who asks questions, nobody will venture to question, and thus the city's administration will have no issues.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Community Response

The arrests came after warnings by national security authorities that they would take action against anyone considered to be using the incident to incite “anti-China” feelings.

Prior to the detentions, officials had already demonstrated increased vigilance to the public reaction. Since the suppression of earlier protests, civilian gatherings have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, volunteer supporters quickly organized aid operations, with many individuals using cars and transit to bring in large quantities of clothes, food and other necessities for the victims.

Nevertheless, by nightfall, armed police were patrolling the vicinity, and public authorities eventually took over from the community coordinators.

The appeal over which the student was reportedly arrested was launched on Friday evening. Its “four points” echoed the terminology of previous campaigns but did not advocate systemic reform.

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

“Should these suggestions are considered subversive or ‘crossing the line’, then I believe I can’t predict the outcomes of anything any more, and I can only do what I sincerely think is right,” he said.