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Authorities in Hong Kong have detained 13 individuals on suspected charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with last week’s catastrophic blaze, amid increasing criticism over the detentions of civilians demanding responsibility.

Search Continues as Fatalities Rises

Emergency services continued to search through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court residential area in the Tai Po district on Monday, following 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 currently unaccounted for.

Construction Work Connected with Cause of Blaze

The housing complex, home to nearly 5,000 people, had been undergoing major refurbishment that have been linked to the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, public fury has grown over alleged past safety violations by the construction company working at the site and lax enforcement of standards, spurred on by disclosures that residents had been complaining about the work for a twelve months.

Arrests Include Corporate Executives

On Monday afternoon, officials said anti-corruption authorities 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 manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Revealed

A senior official stated that seven of twenty tested specimens of the mesh netting used around the towers did not meet fire-retardant standards. Preliminary checks had found materials were up to code, but the spokesperson said the cheaper, substandard material had been put in areas hard to reach in order to avoid discovery, labeling it a “deplorable deed”.

“Their sole aim was to make money at the expense of human lives,” the official stated.

Citizens Arrested Amid Calls for Accountability

As accusations of safety violations grow, alongside reports that official bodies had issued several apparently unenforced warnings, the public have questioned why no government figures have yet faced consequences. Instead, two members of the public were allegedly taken into custody by national security police.

One individual, named as a Hong Kong 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 public servants.

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

Local media also reported the detention of a former district councillor.

Official Response on Detentions

Questioned about the detentions, the secretary of security said there had been “inaccurate comments online” that were aimed to undermine national security. “Therefore, we must take appropriate measures, including police action,” the official told a media briefing. “Specifics of the operation cannot be disclosed as they concern state security.”

Public Reaction and Parallels Made

On local online platforms, people criticised the arrests of civilians. “National security must be prioritised even if the dead are still buried in the building,” said a comment.

Several users drew comparisons to mainland China. “The mainland, such acts are termed ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said one commenter. “It’s usually met with heavy sentences. Stability trumps everything.”

A different user said: “Since we are aligning with mainland China’s approach, by targeting the individual who raises the question, no one will dare to ask, and thus the city's administration will have no issues.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Volunteer Efforts

The arrests followed advisories by security officials that they would crack down on anyone considered to be using the incident to incite “anti-China” feelings.

Prior to the detentions, authorities had already begun showing increased vigilance to the community response. Following the suppression of earlier protests, civilian gatherings have been tightly controlled. In the days following the fire, community volunteers rapidly established aid operations, with many individuals employing vehicles and public transport to bring in mountains of garments, supplies and other necessities for the victims.

However, by nightfall, officers were monitoring the vicinity, and government officials soon assumed control from the volunteer organisers.

The petition over which the student was reportedly detained was initiated on Friday evening. Its “four demands” mirrored the language of previous campaigns but did not advocate systemic reform.

The individual informed reporters that he was only “proposing 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 sincerely think is correct,” he said.