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Officials in Hong Kong have taken into custody thirteen people on suspected charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with last week’s catastrophic blaze, amid increasing public outcry over the arrests of citizens demanding responsibility.

Search Continues as Fatalities Climbs

Emergency services continued to search through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in the Tai Po district on the start of the week, days after the city’s deadliest fire in 75 years. The death toll rose to 151 and is expected to rise further as the search goes on. About 40 people are still unaccounted for.

Construction Work Connected with Fire’s Cause

The housing complex, home to nearly five thousand people, had been in the midst of extensive renovations that have been linked to the fire’s cause. In the aftermath, anger has grown over reported past safety violations by the construction company working at the location and poor oversight of standards, fuelled by revelations that occupants had been voicing concerns over the work for a year.

Arrests Include Corporate Executives

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

Safety Failures Uncovered

A senior official stated that seven of 20 tested samples of the mesh netting used around the buildings did not meet fire-retardant standards. Initial testing had found samples were up to code, but the official said the cheaper, noncompliant material had been put in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, describing it as a “deplorable deed”.

“They just wanted to profit at the cost of human lives,” he said.

Civilians Detained Amid Demands for Accountability

As accusations of safety lapses grow, alongside reports that government authorities had issued multiple apparently ignored cautions, the public have questioned why no government figures have yet been held accountable. Instead, two members of the public were reportedly arrested by national security police.

A person, identified as a local student, was arrested over an online petition that made “four requests” for assured assistance for the victims and accountability for those at fault, including any corrupt or culpable government officials.

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

Local media also reported the arrest of a ex-local representative.

Official Response on Arrests

Questioned about the arrests, the secretary of security said there had been “inaccurate comments on the internet” 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. “Operational details cannot be disclosed as they involve national security.”

Social Media Response and Parallels Made

On local online platforms, people condemned the detention of citizens. “State security must be prioritised even if the victims are still trapped in the structure,” said one.

Several users drew comparisons to the Chinese mainland. “There, such acts are called ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said one commenter. “It’s usually punished with heavy sentences. Social order trumps everything.”

A different user said: “Since we are aligning with the mainland’s methods, by targeting the individual who raises the question, nobody will venture to question, and therefore Hong Kong’s governance will have no issues.”

Increased Scrutiny and Community Response

The detentions came after warnings by national security authorities that they would take action against anyone considered to be exploiting the incident to stir up “hostile” feelings.

Prior to the arrests, authorities had already begun showing heightened sensitivity to the public reaction. Following the quelling of earlier protests, public assemblies have been tightly controlled. In the days following the fire, volunteer supporters rapidly established aid operations, with many individuals using cars and public transport to bring in mountains of garments, supplies and other essentials for the victims.

However, by nightfall, armed police were monitoring the vicinity, and government officials eventually assumed control from the community coordinators.

The appeal over which the individual was reportedly detained was initiated on Friday evening. Its “four points” mirrored the language of past protest movements but did not advocate systemic reform.

The individual informed media that he was only “proposing very basic requests”.

“If these ideas are considered subversive or ‘crossing the line’, then I believe I cannot foresee the consequences of anything any more, and I can only do what I sincerely think is right,” he said.