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Authorities in Hong Kong have taken into custody thirteen people on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter related to the recent catastrophic blaze, amid growing public outcry over the arrests of civilians calling for accountability.

Search Continues as Death Toll Climbs

Emergency services 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 most fatal blaze in seven and a half decades. The death toll reached 151 and is expected to rise further as the search goes on. Approximately 40 people are still missing.

Construction Work Connected with Fire’s Cause

The housing complex, home to almost 5,000 people, had been undergoing extensive renovations that have been associated with the fire’s cause. In the aftermath, anger has escalated over alleged previous safety breaches by the construction company working at the site and lax enforcement of safety codes, fuelled by disclosures that residents had been complaining about the renovations for a year.

Arrests Include Corporate Executives

On the afternoon of Monday, officials said the anti-graft agency had arrested thirteen people over the tragedy so far, including the directors and an technical advisor of a construction company, and had “promptly initiated 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 towers did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Preliminary checks had found materials were up to code, but the spokesperson said the less expensive, noncompliant netting had been installed in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, describing it as a “shameful act”.

“Their sole aim was to make money at the cost of people’s lives,” he said.

Citizens Arrested Amid Demands for Answers

As accusations of safety violations grow, alongside revelations that government authorities had issued several seemingly ignored cautions, residents have asked why no officials have yet faced consequences. Conversely, two members of the public were reportedly taken into custody by security forces.

A person, identified as a local student, was arrested over an online petition that made “four requests” for assured assistance for the victims and accountability for those at fault, including any corrupt or culpable government officials.

Reports said the individual was detained for “seditious intention”. 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 covered the detention of a former district councillor.

Government Statement on Arrests

Questioned about the arrests, the secretary of security said there had been “inaccurate comments on the internet” that were aimed to threaten public security. “Therefore, we must take appropriate measures, including police action,” the secretary told a media briefing. “Operational details cannot be revealed as they concern state security.”

Social Media Response and Parallels Drawn

On Hong Kong social media, people condemned the detention of citizens. “State security must be given precedence even if the victims are still buried in the structure,” said a comment.

Several users made parallels to the Chinese mainland. “There, such acts are called ‘creating disturbances’,” said a user. “It’s usually met with heavy sentences. Social order trumps everything.”

A different user said: “Since we are aligning with the mainland’s approach, by dealing with the person who raises the question, no one will venture to question, and therefore Hong Kong’s governance will have no issues.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Volunteer Efforts

The detentions came after warnings by national security authorities that they would take action against anyone deemed to be exploiting the incident to incite “anti-China” sentiment.

Before the arrests, officials had already demonstrated heightened sensitivity to the public reaction. Since the suppression of earlier unrest, civilian gatherings have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, volunteer supporters rapidly established aid operations, with hundreds of people using vehicles and public transport to deliver large quantities of clothes, food and other necessities for the victims.

Nevertheless, by nightfall, armed police were monitoring the area, and public authorities eventually assumed control from the community coordinators.

The petition over which the individual was allegedly arrested was initiated late on Friday. Its “four points” mirrored the language of past campaigns but did not advocate political change.

The student told media that he was only “proposing fundamental demands”.

“If these ideas are deemed subversive or ‘crossing the line’, then I feel I can’t predict the consequences of any action any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is correct,” he said.