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Authorities in Hong Kong have taken into custody thirteen people on suspected charges of involuntary manslaughter related to last week’s catastrophic blaze, amid increasing criticism over the arrests of civilians calling for responsibility.

Ongoing Rescue Operations as Death Toll Rises

Rescue teams persisted in combing through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court residential area in the Tai Po district on the start of the week, following the most fatal blaze in 75 years. The death toll reached 151 and is expected to rise higher as the search continues. About forty people are currently missing.

Renovations Connected with Fire’s Cause

The estate, housing nearly 5,000 people, had been undergoing major refurbishment that have been associated with the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, public fury has escalated over reported past safety violations by the construction company working at the location and poor oversight of standards, spurred on by disclosures that occupants had been complaining about the renovations for a year.

Those Detained Include Company Directors

On the afternoon of Monday, authorities said anti-corruption authorities had arrested 13 people over the tragedy so far, including the executives and an engineering consultant of a construction company, and had “promptly initiated a thorough probe along the lines of manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Revealed

A top administrator stated that seven of twenty tested samples of the mesh netting used around the towers did not meet fire-retardant standards. Initial testing had found samples were up to code, but the official said the less expensive, substandard material had been put in areas difficult to access in order to avoid discovery, describing it as a “deplorable deed”.

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

Citizens Arrested Amid Calls for Answers

As accusations of safety lapses grow, alongside reports that official bodies had issued multiple apparently ignored cautions, the public have questioned why no officials have yet faced consequences. Instead, two civilians were reportedly taken into custody by national security police.

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

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

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

Official Response on Detentions

Asked about the arrests, the secretary of security said there had been “inaccurate comments on the internet” that were aimed to threaten national security. “As a result, we must take appropriate measures, including law enforcement measures,” the secretary told a press conference. “Specifics of the operation cannot be revealed as they involve state security.”

Public Reaction and Parallels Drawn

On local online platforms, people condemned the arrests of civilians. “State security must be prioritised even if the dead are still buried in the building,” said one.

Several users drew comparisons to mainland China. “There, these crimes are called ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said one commenter. “It’s usually met with heavy sentences. Social order trumps everything.”

A different user said: “Now that we are aligning with the mainland’s approach, by targeting the person who asks questions, nobody will dare to ask, and therefore the city's administration will have no problems.”

Increased Scrutiny and Community Response

The arrests followed advisories by national security authorities that they would crack down on anyone deemed to be using the tragedy to stir up “hostile” sentiment.

Prior to the arrests, officials had already begun showing increased vigilance to the community response. Following the quelling of earlier unrest, civilian gatherings have been tightly controlled. In the days following the fire, volunteer supporters quickly organized relief efforts, with many individuals employing vehicles and public transport to deliver large quantities of clothes, supplies and other essentials for the survivors.

Nevertheless, by evening, officers were patrolling the area, and government officials soon took over from the volunteer organisers.

The petition over which the student was allegedly detained was launched on Friday evening. Its “four points” mirrored the terminology of past campaigns but did not call for systemic reform.

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

“If these ideas are considered subversive or ‘transgressive’, then I feel I can’t predict the outcomes of anything any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is correct,” he stated.