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Officials in the city have taken into custody thirteen people on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter related to the recent catastrophic blaze, amidst increasing public outcry over the detentions of citizens calling for accountability.

Search Continues as Death Toll Rises

Emergency services persisted in combing through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in the Tai Po district on Monday, days after the most fatal blaze in seven and a half decades. The death toll reached one hundred and fifty-one and is anticipated to climb higher as the search goes on. Approximately 40 people are still unaccounted for.

Construction Work Connected with Fire’s Cause

The estate, home to nearly five thousand people, had been undergoing extensive renovations that have been linked to the fire’s cause. In the aftermath, anger has escalated over alleged past safety violations by the construction company working at the location and lax enforcement of safety codes, spurred on by disclosures that residents had been complaining about the renovations for a twelve months.

Those Detained Include Corporate Executives

On the afternoon of Monday, authorities said the anti-graft agency had detained 13 people over the disaster so far, including the executives and an technical advisor of a contracting firm, and had “promptly initiated a thorough probe along the lines of manslaughter”.

Substandard Materials Uncovered

A top administrator stated that seven of 20 tested specimens of the mesh netting used around the towers did not meet fire-retardant standards. Initial testing had found materials were compliant, but the spokesperson said the cheaper, substandard material had been put in areas difficult to access in order to avoid discovery, labeling it a “deplorable deed”.

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

Citizens Detained Amid Demands for Accountability

As accusations of safety violations grow, alongside revelations that official bodies had issued several seemingly ignored cautions, residents have questioned why no officials have yet been held accountable. Instead, two civilians were reportedly taken into custody by security forces.

A person, named as a local student, was detained over an internet appeal that made “four demands” for assured assistance for the victims and responsibility for those at to blame, including any corrupt or culpable public servants.

Reports said the individual was detained for “inciting disaffection”. Law enforcement did not verify the arrest, saying only that they “will act according to actual circumstances and in accordance with the legal framework”.

Local media also covered the arrest of a former district councillor.

Government Statement on Arrests

Questioned about the detentions, the security chief said there had been “misleading statements on the internet” that were aimed to threaten national security. “As a result, we must take necessary steps, including police action,” the secretary told a press conference. “Operational details cannot be disclosed as they involve national security.”

Public Reaction and Parallels Made

On Hong Kong social media, people criticised the arrests of civilians. “State security must be given precedence even if the victims are still buried in the building,” said a comment.

Some commenters made parallels to the Chinese mainland. “There, these crimes are termed ‘creating disturbances’,” said one commenter. “They are typically met with heavy sentences. Stability overrides everything.”

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

Increased Scrutiny and Community Response

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

Before the arrests, officials had already begun showing increased vigilance to the public reaction. Following the suppression of earlier protests, public assemblies have been tightly controlled. In the days following the fire, community volunteers rapidly established relief efforts, with hundreds of people using vehicles and public transport to deliver large quantities of garments, supplies and other essentials for the victims.

However, by evening, armed police were patrolling the area, and government officials eventually took over from the community coordinators.

The appeal over which the student was allegedly detained was launched late on Friday. Its “four points” mirrored the language of past campaigns but did not call for political change.

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

“Should these suggestions are deemed seditious or ‘crossing the line’, then I believe I can’t predict the consequences of anything any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is right,” he said.