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Officials in Hong Kong have detained 13 individuals on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the recent devastating fire, amid growing public outcry over the arrests of citizens demanding responsibility.

Search Continues as Fatalities Rises

Rescue teams persisted in combing through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court residential area in Tai Po on Monday, following the most fatal blaze in seven and a half decades. The death toll rose to 151 and is expected to rise higher as the operation goes on. Approximately forty people are currently unaccounted for.

Renovations Linked to Fire’s Cause

The housing complex, housing almost five thousand people, had been in the midst of extensive renovations that have been linked to the fire’s cause. In the wake of the tragedy, public fury has grown over reported past safety violations by the contractor working at the site and lax enforcement of standards, spurred on by revelations that residents had been complaining about the work for a twelve months.

Arrests Include Corporate Executives

On Monday afternoon, authorities said anti-corruption authorities had detained thirteen people over the tragedy so far, including the executives and an technical advisor of a construction company, and had “immediately begun comprehensive investigation along the lines of involuntary manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Revealed

A senior official stated that 7 of 20 tested samples of the mesh netting used around the buildings did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Preliminary checks had found samples were compliant, but the official said the cheaper, substandard material 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 human lives,” he said.

Civilians Detained Amid Calls for Accountability

As allegations of safety violations mount, alongside reports that official bodies had issued several seemingly unenforced warnings, the public have asked why no government figures have yet faced consequences. Instead, two civilians were reportedly arrested by security forces.

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

Local media said the student was arrested for “seditious intention”. Police did not confirm the arrest, 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.

Government Statement on Detentions

Questioned about the detentions, the security chief said there had been “misleading statements on the internet” that were aimed to threaten national security. “Therefore, we must take necessary steps, including police action,” the official told a press conference. “Operational details cannot be disclosed as they involve state security.”

Social Media Response and Parallels Drawn

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

Several users made parallels to mainland China. “There, such acts are called ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said a user. “It’s usually punished with heavy sentences. Stability trumps everything.”

Another said: “Now that we are aligning with mainland China’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 Volunteer Efforts

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

Before the detentions, officials had already begun showing heightened sensitivity to the community response. Since the quelling of earlier unrest, public assemblies have been strictly regulated. In the days following the fire, volunteer supporters rapidly established aid operations, with many individuals employing vehicles and public transport to bring in mountains of clothes, food and other necessities for the victims.

However, by nightfall, officers were monitoring the area, and government officials eventually assumed control from the community coordinators.

The petition over which the individual was allegedly detained was launched late on Friday. Its “four points” mirrored the terminology of previous protest movements but did not advocate systemic reform.

The individual told reporters that he was only “proposing very basic demands”.

“Should these suggestions are deemed seditious or ‘transgressive’, then I believe I cannot foresee the consequences of anything any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is right,” he stated.