🔗 Share this article

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

Search Continues as Death Toll Climbs

Rescue teams persisted in combing through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po on Monday, days after the city’s deadliest fire in seven and a half decades. The number of fatalities reached 151 and is anticipated to climb higher as the operation goes on. About forty people are still unaccounted for.

Renovations Linked to Fire’s Cause

The estate, housing nearly 5,000 people, had been in the midst of extensive renovations that have been associated with the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, public fury has escalated over reported past safety violations by the contractor working at the site and lax enforcement of safety codes, spurred on by revelations that occupants had been voicing concerns over the renovations for a year.

Those Detained Include Corporate Executives

On Monday afternoon, officials said anti-corruption authorities had detained 13 people over the disaster so far, including the executives and an technical advisor of a contracting firm, and had “promptly initiated comprehensive investigation along the lines of manslaughter”.

Substandard Materials Uncovered

A top administrator stated that 7 of twenty tested samples of the mesh netting used around the buildings did not meet fire-retardant standards. Preliminary checks had found samples were compliant, but the spokesperson said the less expensive, noncompliant material had been put in areas difficult to access in order to evade detection, describing it as a “shameful act”.

“They just wanted to make money at the expense of human lives,” he said.

Civilians Arrested Amid Demands for Accountability

As allegations of safety lapses mount, alongside reports that official bodies had issued multiple apparently ignored cautions, residents have questioned why no government figures have yet been held accountable. Instead, two civilians were allegedly taken into custody by national security police.

One individual, named as a Hong Kong student, was detained over an online petition that made “four demands” for assured assistance for the affected families and accountability for those at to blame, including any negligent or culpable public servants.

Reports said the individual was arrested for “inciting disaffection”. Law enforcement did not confirm the detention, saying only that they “will act according to the situation and in accordance with the law”.

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

Official Response on Arrests

Questioned about the detentions, the secretary of security said there had been “inaccurate comments on the internet” that were intended to undermine public security. “As a result, we must take appropriate measures, including law enforcement measures,” the official told a press conference. “Specifics of the operation cannot be disclosed as they involve state security.”

Social Media Response and Comparisons Made

On local online platforms, people condemned the detention of citizens. “State security must be prioritised even if the dead are still trapped in the structure,” said a comment.

Some commenters drew comparisons to mainland China. “The mainland, these crimes are called ‘creating disturbances’,” said a user. “It’s usually met with heavy sentences. Social order overrides everything.”

A different user said: “Since we are aligning with mainland China’s methods, by targeting the individual who asks questions, nobody will dare to ask, and therefore Hong Kong’s governance will have no problems.”

Increased Scrutiny and Community Response

The arrests followed warnings by national security authorities that they would crack down on anyone deemed to be exploiting the incident to incite “anti-China” sentiment.

Before the arrests, officials had already begun showing heightened sensitivity to the public reaction. Following the suppression of earlier protests, public assemblies have been tightly controlled. In the days following the fire, volunteer supporters rapidly established aid operations, with many individuals using cars and transit to deliver large quantities of clothes, supplies and other necessities for the victims.

Nevertheless, by nightfall, armed police were monitoring the vicinity, and government officials soon took over from the community coordinators.

The appeal over which the student was reportedly arrested was initiated late on Friday. Its “four points” echoed the language of past protest movements but did not call for systemic reform.

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

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