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Authorities in Hong Kong have detained thirteen individuals on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the recent catastrophic blaze, amid increasing criticism over the arrests of citizens calling for responsibility.

Ongoing Rescue Operations as Death Toll Climbs

Emergency services continued to search through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court residential area in the Tai Po district on Monday, following the most fatal blaze in 75 years. The death toll rose to 151 and is expected to rise higher as the operation goes on. Approximately 40 people are currently unaccounted for.

Renovations Linked to Fire’s Cause

The housing complex, housing nearly five thousand people, had been undergoing extensive renovations that have been associated with the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, anger has grown over alleged previous safety breaches by the contractor working at the site and lax enforcement of standards, spurred on by disclosures that residents had been complaining about the renovations for a twelve months.

Arrests Include Corporate Executives

On Monday afternoon, officials said anti-corruption authorities 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 involuntary manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Uncovered

A senior official stated that 7 of twenty tested specimens of the scaffolding net used around the buildings did not meet fire-retardant standards. Initial testing had found materials were compliant, but the spokesperson said the less expensive, substandard netting had been installed in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, labeling it a “deplorable deed”.

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

Civilians Detained Amid Demands for Accountability

As allegations of safety violations grow, alongside revelations that government authorities had issued several seemingly ignored cautions, residents have questioned why no officials have yet been held accountable. Conversely, two members of the public were allegedly arrested by security forces.

A person, 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 fault, including any negligent or culpable government officials.

Local media said the individual was detained for “seditious intention”. Law enforcement did not verify the arrest, saying only that they “will act according to the situation and in compliance with the legal framework”.

Local media also covered the arrest of a ex-local representative.

Official Response on Arrests

Asked about the arrests, the secretary of security said there had been “misleading statements on the internet” that were intended to threaten public security. “As a result, we must take appropriate measures, including police action,” the official told a press conference. “Operational details cannot be revealed as they involve national security.”

Social Media Response and Parallels Drawn

On local online platforms, people criticised the detention of citizens. “State security must be given precedence even if the victims are still buried in the building,” said a comment.

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. Stability trumps everything.”

Another said: “Now that we are aligning with the mainland’s approach, by targeting the person who raises the question, nobody will venture to question, and therefore Hong Kong’s governance will have no problems.”

Increased Scrutiny and Community Response

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

Before the arrests, officials had already begun showing increased vigilance to the public reaction. Following the quelling of earlier protests, public assemblies have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers rapidly established relief efforts, with many individuals employing vehicles and transit to bring in large quantities of clothes, supplies and other essentials for the survivors.

However, by evening, officers were patrolling the area, and government officials eventually took over from the community coordinators.

The petition over which the individual was reportedly detained was initiated on Friday evening. Its “four points” echoed the language of past campaigns but did not advocate political change.

The student told reporters that he was only “proposing very basic 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 sincerely think is right,” he stated.