🔗 Share this article

Authorities in Hong Kong have detained 13 individuals on suspicion of manslaughter related to last week’s catastrophic blaze, amidst growing criticism over the arrests of citizens demanding responsibility.

Search Continues as Death Toll Climbs

Rescue teams continued to search through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court residential area in the Tai Po district on Monday, days after the most fatal blaze in 75 years. The number of fatalities reached 151 and is expected to rise further as the operation goes on. About forty people are currently missing.

Renovations Connected with Cause of Blaze

The housing complex, housing nearly five thousand people, had been in the midst of major refurbishment that have been associated with the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, anger has escalated over alleged previous safety breaches by the contractor working at the site and poor oversight of safety codes, fuelled by revelations that occupants had been voicing concerns over the work for a twelve months.

Those Detained Include Corporate Executives

On the afternoon of Monday, officials said the anti-graft agency had detained 13 people over the disaster so far, including the directors and an technical advisor of a construction company, and had “immediately begun a thorough probe along the lines of involuntary manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Uncovered

A senior official stated that seven of twenty tested samples of the mesh netting used around the buildings did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Preliminary checks had found materials were compliant, but the spokesperson said the less expensive, substandard material had been put in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, labeling it a “deplorable deed”.

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

Civilians Arrested Amid Demands for Answers

As accusations of safety violations mount, alongside reports that government authorities had issued multiple seemingly ignored cautions, the public have asked why no officials have yet faced consequences. Instead, two civilians were reportedly taken into custody by security forces.

A person, identified as a local student, was arrested over an online petition that made “four demands” for guaranteed support for the affected families and responsibility for those at to blame, including any negligent or responsible public servants.

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

News outlets also covered the arrest of a ex-local representative.

Government Statement on Arrests

Questioned about the arrests, the secretary of security said there had been “inaccurate comments online” that were intended to undermine public security. “As a result, we must take appropriate measures, including law enforcement measures,” the official told a media briefing. “Specifics of the operation cannot be revealed as they concern state security.”

Social Media Response and Comparisons Made

On local online platforms, people criticised the arrests of civilians. “State security must be prioritised even if the victims are still buried in the structure,” said one.

Some commenters made parallels to mainland China. “The mainland, these crimes are called ‘creating disturbances’,” said a user. “They are typically punished with heavy sentences. Stability overrides everything.”

A different user said: “Now that we are aligning with mainland China’s approach, by dealing with the person who asks questions, no one will dare to ask, and therefore Hong Kong’s governance will have no problems.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Community Response

The detentions came after warnings by security officials that they would crack down on anyone considered to be exploiting the tragedy to stir up “anti-China” sentiment.

Before the detentions, officials had already begun showing heightened sensitivity to the public reaction. Since the suppression of earlier unrest, civilian gatherings have been tightly controlled. In the days following the fire, community volunteers rapidly established aid operations, with many individuals employing vehicles and transit to deliver large quantities of garments, supplies and other essentials for the victims.

However, by nightfall, armed police were monitoring the vicinity, and public authorities soon took over from the volunteer organisers.

The appeal over which the individual was allegedly arrested was initiated on Friday evening. Its “four demands” echoed the terminology of previous campaigns but did not advocate political change.

The individual informed media that he was only “putting forward very basic demands”.

“If these ideas are deemed seditious or ‘transgressive’, then I feel I cannot foresee the consequences of any action any more, and I can only do what I sincerely think is correct,” he stated.