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Officials in Hong Kong have taken into custody thirteen individuals on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the recent catastrophic blaze, amid increasing public outcry over the arrests of civilians demanding accountability.

Ongoing Rescue Operations as Fatalities Climbs

Rescue teams persisted in combing through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po on the start of the week, following the city’s deadliest fire in seven and a half decades. The death toll rose to 151 and is expected to rise higher as the operation goes on. About forty people are currently missing.

Construction Work Connected with Fire’s Cause

The housing complex, housing almost five thousand people, had been undergoing major refurbishment that have been associated with the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, anger has grown over alleged past safety violations by the construction company working at the site and lax enforcement of safety codes, spurred on by disclosures that residents had been voicing concerns over the work for a year.

Arrests Include Corporate Executives

On Monday afternoon, officials said the anti-graft agency had arrested thirteen people over the disaster so far, including the directors and an technical advisor 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 twenty tested samples of the scaffolding net used around the towers did not meet fire-retardant standards. Preliminary checks had found samples were up to code, but the spokesperson said the less expensive, substandard netting had been installed in areas difficult to access in order to evade detection, labeling it a “shameful act”.

“They just wanted to profit at the cost of people’s lives,” the official stated.

Citizens Arrested Amid Calls for Accountability

As accusations of safety violations mount, alongside revelations that government authorities had issued multiple seemingly ignored cautions, residents have asked why no government figures have yet faced consequences. Instead, two members of the public were reportedly taken into custody by national security police.

A person, named as a Hong Kong student, was detained over an internet appeal that made “four demands” for guaranteed support for the victims and responsibility for those at fault, including any negligent or culpable government officials.

Reports said the student was detained for “seditious intention”. Police did not verify the arrest, saying only that they “will act according to the situation and in accordance with the legal framework”.

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

Official Response on Arrests

Asked about the detentions, the security chief said there had been “misleading statements online” that were aimed to undermine national security. “As a result, we must take necessary steps, including law enforcement measures,” the official told a press conference. “Operational details cannot be disclosed as they concern national security.”

Social Media Response and Comparisons Made

On Hong Kong social media, people condemned the detention of citizens. “National security must be prioritised even if the dead are still buried in the building,” said one.

Several users made parallels to the Chinese mainland. “The mainland, these crimes are called ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said one commenter. “They are typically punished with severe penalties. Stability trumps everything.”

Another said: “Since we are following mainland China’s approach, by dealing with the individual who raises the question, no one will dare to ask, and thus the city's administration will have no problems.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Community Response

The arrests came after warnings by security officials that they would crack down on anyone considered to be exploiting the incident to stir up “hostile” feelings.

Prior to the detentions, officials had already demonstrated increased vigilance to the public reaction. Since the suppression of earlier unrest, civilian gatherings have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers rapidly established relief efforts, with hundreds of people employing cars and public transport to deliver large quantities of garments, food and other essentials for the survivors.

Nevertheless, by nightfall, armed police were monitoring the vicinity, and public authorities eventually took over from the community coordinators.

The petition over which the individual was allegedly detained was launched on Friday evening. Its “four demands” echoed the language of previous campaigns but did not advocate political change.

The student informed media that he was only “proposing fundamental requests”.

“If these ideas are deemed subversive or ‘crossing the line’, then I believe I cannot foresee the outcomes of any action any more, and I can only do what I sincerely think is correct,” he stated.