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Officials in Hong Kong have detained 13 individuals on suspected charges of manslaughter related to the recent devastating fire, amid increasing criticism over the detentions of civilians calling for responsibility.

Search Continues as Death Toll Rises

Emergency services continued to search through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court residential area in the Tai Po district on the start of the week, days after the most fatal blaze in 75 years. The number of fatalities reached 151 and is expected to rise further as the operation continues. Approximately 40 people are currently missing.

Construction Work Linked to Cause of Blaze

The housing complex, home to nearly five thousand people, had been undergoing extensive renovations that have been linked to the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, anger has grown over alleged previous safety breaches by the contractor working at the site and poor oversight of safety codes, fuelled by revelations that residents had been voicing concerns over the work for a year.

Arrests Include Corporate Executives

On the afternoon of Monday, authorities said the anti-graft agency had detained thirteen people over the disaster so far, including the executives and an engineering consultant of a contracting firm, and had “promptly initiated a thorough probe along the lines of manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Revealed

A senior official stated that 7 of twenty tested specimens of the scaffolding net used around the towers did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Initial testing had found samples were compliant, but the spokesperson said the cheaper, substandard netting had been put in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, labeling it a “shameful act”.

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

Citizens Arrested Amid Demands for Accountability

As accusations of safety violations grow, alongside reports that government authorities had issued several seemingly ignored cautions, the public have questioned why no government figures have yet been held accountable. Conversely, two civilians were reportedly taken into custody by security forces.

One individual, identified as a Hong Kong student, was detained over an internet appeal that made “four demands” for guaranteed support for the affected families and accountability for those at to blame, including any negligent or culpable public servants.

Local media said the student was detained for “seditious intention”. Police did not verify the arrest, saying only that they “will take actions according to actual circumstances and in accordance with the legal framework”.

News outlets also reported the detention of a former district councillor.

Official Response on Detentions

Questioned about the arrests, the security chief said there had been “misleading statements on the internet” that were aimed to undermine public security. “Therefore, we must take appropriate measures, including police action,” the secretary told a media briefing. “Operational details cannot be revealed as they involve national security.”

Social Media Response and Parallels Made

On Hong Kong social media, people criticised the detention of citizens. “State security must be prioritised even if the victims are still buried in the structure,” said one.

Several users made parallels to the Chinese mainland. “The mainland, such acts are called ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said a user. “They are typically met with heavy sentences. Social order trumps everything.”

Another said: “Now that we are aligning with the mainland’s methods, by dealing with the person who raises the question, nobody will dare to ask, and thus the city's administration will have no problems.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Volunteer Efforts

The arrests followed advisories by national security authorities that they would crack down on anyone deemed to be exploiting the tragedy to incite “hostile” feelings.

Before the arrests, authorities had already demonstrated heightened sensitivity to the public reaction. Since the quelling of earlier unrest, public assemblies have been strictly regulated. In the immediate aftermath, volunteer supporters quickly organized aid operations, with hundreds of people employing vehicles and public transport to deliver mountains of clothes, food and other necessities for the survivors.

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

The petition over which the student was reportedly arrested was initiated on Friday evening. Its “four points” mirrored the language of previous campaigns but did not advocate political change.

The individual informed reporters that he was only “putting forward fundamental requests”.

“Should these suggestions are considered seditious or ‘transgressive’, 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.