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Officials in the city have detained 13 individuals on suspected charges of manslaughter in connection with last week’s devastating fire, amid increasing criticism over the detentions of civilians calling for accountability.

Search Continues as Death Toll Rises

Emergency services continued to search through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court estate in the Tai Po district on Monday, days after the city’s deadliest fire in 75 years. The number of fatalities rose to 151 and is anticipated to climb further as the search goes on. About forty people are still unaccounted for.

Renovations Connected with Cause of Blaze

The housing complex, home to nearly five thousand 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 contractor working at the site and lax enforcement of safety codes, fuelled by revelations that residents had been voicing concerns over the work for a twelve months.

Those Detained Include Company Directors

On Monday afternoon, officials said the anti-graft agency had detained thirteen people over the disaster so far, including the directors and an engineering consultant of a construction company, and had “promptly initiated comprehensive investigation along the lines of involuntary manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Uncovered

A top administrator stated that 7 of 20 tested specimens of the mesh netting used around the buildings did not meet fire-retardant standards. Preliminary checks had found materials were compliant, but the spokesperson said the cheaper, noncompliant material had been put in areas hard to reach in order to avoid discovery, describing it as a “deplorable deed”.

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

Citizens Detained Amid Demands for Answers

As accusations of safety violations grow, alongside revelations that official bodies had issued several seemingly unenforced warnings, the public have questioned why no government figures have yet been held accountable. Instead, two civilians were allegedly taken into custody by national security police.

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

Local media said the individual was arrested for “seditious intention”. Law enforcement did not confirm the arrest, saying only that they “will act according to actual circumstances and in compliance with the law”.

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

Official Response on Detentions

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

Public Reaction and Parallels Drawn

On Hong Kong social media, people condemned the arrests of civilians. “State security must be prioritised even if the dead are still trapped in the building,” said one.

Several users made parallels to mainland China. “There, these crimes are termed ‘creating disturbances’,” said a user. “They are typically met with severe penalties. Social order trumps everything.”

Another said: “Since we are following mainland China’s approach, by dealing with the person who asks questions, nobody will dare to ask, and therefore Hong Kong’s governance will have no problems.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Volunteer Efforts

The detentions came after advisories by national security authorities that they would take action against anyone deemed to be using the tragedy to incite “anti-China” feelings.

Prior to the arrests, authorities had already demonstrated heightened sensitivity to the public reaction. Following the suppression of earlier unrest, public assemblies have been strictly regulated. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers quickly organized aid operations, with many individuals using cars and public transport to bring in large quantities of garments, food and other essentials for the survivors.

However, by evening, armed police were patrolling the area, and public authorities soon assumed control from the volunteer organisers.

The appeal over which the individual was allegedly arrested was initiated late on Friday. Its “four demands” mirrored the language of previous protest movements but did not advocate systemic reform.

The student told media that he was only “putting forward fundamental requests”.

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