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Officials in the city have taken into custody 13 individuals on suspicion of manslaughter related to last week’s devastating fire, amidst increasing criticism over the detentions of citizens calling for accountability.

Ongoing Rescue Operations as Death Toll Climbs

Rescue teams continued to search through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po on Monday, days after the city’s deadliest fire in seven and a half decades. The number of fatalities reached one hundred and fifty-one and is anticipated to climb further as the operation goes on. About 40 people are currently unaccounted for.

Renovations Connected with Fire’s Cause

The housing complex, housing almost five thousand people, had been undergoing major refurbishment that have been associated with the fire’s cause. In the wake of the tragedy, anger has grown over alleged past safety violations by the contractor working at the site and poor oversight of safety codes, spurred on by disclosures that occupants had been complaining about the renovations for a twelve months.

Arrests Include Company Directors

On the afternoon of Monday, authorities said anti-corruption authorities had arrested 13 people over the disaster so far, including the executives and an technical advisor of a contracting firm, and had “immediately begun comprehensive investigation along the lines of involuntary manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Uncovered

A senior official stated that 7 of 20 tested specimens of the mesh netting used around the buildings did not meet fire-retardant standards. Initial testing had found materials were up to code, but the spokesperson said the less expensive, noncompliant netting had been installed in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, describing it as a “shameful act”.

“Their sole aim was to make money at the cost of people’s lives,” the official stated.

Citizens Detained Amid Demands for Accountability

As accusations of safety lapses mount, alongside revelations that government authorities had issued several apparently unenforced warnings, residents have asked why no officials have yet faced consequences. Instead, two civilians were reportedly taken into custody by national security police.

A person, named as a local student, was arrested over an internet appeal that made “four requests” for guaranteed support for the victims and accountability for those at to blame, including any corrupt or culpable public servants.

Reports said the student was arrested for “seditious intention”. Law enforcement did not verify the arrest, saying only that they “will act according to the situation and in compliance with the legal framework”.

News outlets also covered the arrest of a ex-local representative.

Official Response on Arrests

Questioned about the arrests, the secretary of security said there had been “misleading statements online” that were aimed to threaten national security. “Therefore, we must take necessary steps, including police action,” the secretary told a media briefing. “Operational details cannot be disclosed as they concern national security.”

Social Media Response and Parallels Made

On Hong Kong social media, people criticised the detention of citizens. “State security must be given precedence even if the dead are still buried in the structure,” said a comment.

Some commenters made parallels to mainland China. “There, these crimes are called ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said one commenter. “They are typically punished with heavy sentences. Stability trumps everything.”

Another said: “Since we are aligning with mainland China’s approach, by targeting the person who raises the question, no one will dare to ask, and therefore the city's administration will have no problems.”

Increased Scrutiny and Community Response

The arrests came after warnings by security officials that they would take action against anyone considered to be using the incident to incite “anti-China” feelings.

Prior to the detentions, officials had already demonstrated 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 hundreds of people employing vehicles and public transport to bring in large quantities of clothes, supplies and other necessities for the victims.

However, by nightfall, 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 terminology of previous protest movements but did not call for systemic reform.

The individual told reporters that he was only “proposing very basic demands”.

“If these ideas are deemed subversive or ‘transgressive’, then I feel I cannot foresee the consequences of anything any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is correct,” he said.