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Officials in the city have taken into custody 13 individuals on suspected charges of involuntary manslaughter related to the recent devastating fire, amid increasing criticism over the arrests of citizens demanding responsibility.

Search Continues as Fatalities Rises

Emergency services persisted in combing through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court residential area in Tai Po on the start of the week, days after the most fatal blaze in seven and a half decades. The death toll rose to 151 and is expected to rise further as the search continues. About 40 people are still missing.

Renovations Connected with Cause of Blaze

The housing complex, home to almost 5,000 people, had been undergoing major refurbishment that have been associated with the fire’s cause. In the wake of the tragedy, public fury has escalated over alleged past safety violations by the contractor working at the site and lax enforcement of safety codes, spurred on by revelations that residents had been complaining about the work for a year.

Arrests Include Company Directors

On Monday afternoon, officials said anti-corruption authorities had arrested 13 people over the tragedy so far, including the directors and an engineering consultant of a contracting firm, and had “promptly initiated comprehensive investigation along the lines of manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Revealed

A senior official stated that seven of 20 tested samples of the scaffolding net used around the towers did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Preliminary checks had found materials were compliant, but the spokesperson said the less expensive, substandard netting had been installed in areas hard to reach in order to avoid discovery, describing it as a “shameful act”.

“They just wanted to profit at the expense of human lives,” the official stated.

Citizens Arrested Amid Calls for Answers

As allegations of safety lapses mount, alongside revelations that official bodies had issued multiple seemingly ignored cautions, the public have asked why no government figures have yet been held accountable. Conversely, two civilians were reportedly arrested by security forces.

One individual, identified as a local student, was arrested over an internet appeal that made “four demands” for guaranteed support for the affected families and responsibility for those at to blame, including any negligent or culpable government officials.

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

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

Government Statement on Detentions

Questioned about the detentions, the security chief said there had been “misleading statements online” that were intended to undermine public security. “As a result, we must take necessary steps, including law enforcement measures,” the official told a press conference. “Specifics of the operation cannot be revealed as they concern national security.”

Social Media Response and Comparisons Made

On Hong Kong social media, people condemned the arrests of civilians. “National security must be given precedence even if the victims are still trapped in the building,” said one.

Some commenters made parallels to mainland China. “The mainland, these crimes are called ‘creating disturbances’,” said one commenter. “They are typically punished with heavy sentences. Stability overrides everything.”

Another said: “Since we are aligning with the mainland’s approach, by targeting the individual who raises the question, nobody will dare to ask, and therefore the city's administration will have no issues.”

Increased Scrutiny and Community Response

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

Before the detentions, authorities had already demonstrated heightened sensitivity to the community response. Since the suppression of earlier unrest, public assemblies have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers rapidly established aid operations, with hundreds of people employing cars and public transport to deliver large quantities of garments, supplies and other essentials for the victims.

Nevertheless, by evening, armed police were monitoring the area, and government officials eventually took over from the volunteer organisers.

The petition over which the individual was reportedly arrested was initiated on Friday evening. Its “four demands” mirrored the language of previous campaigns but did not call for systemic reform.

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

“Should these suggestions are considered subversive or ‘transgressive’, then I believe I can’t predict the outcomes of anything any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is right,” he said.