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Authorities in the city have detained 13 people on suspected charges of manslaughter in connection with last week’s devastating fire, amidst increasing criticism over the detentions of citizens demanding accountability.

Search Continues as Death Toll Rises

Rescue teams persisted in combing through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court estate in the Tai Po district on Monday, following the city’s deadliest fire in 75 years. The death toll rose to one hundred and fifty-one and is expected to rise further as the search goes on. Approximately forty people are currently missing.

Renovations Linked to Fire’s Cause

The housing complex, housing nearly five thousand people, had been in the midst of extensive renovations that have been linked to the origin of the blaze. In the wake of the tragedy, public fury has escalated over alleged past safety violations by the contractor working at the site and lax enforcement of standards, fuelled by revelations that residents had been voicing concerns over the work for a year.

Arrests Include Company Directors

On the afternoon of Monday, officials said the anti-graft agency had arrested 13 people over the disaster so far, including the directors and an engineering consultant of a contracting firm, and had “promptly initiated comprehensive investigation along the lines of involuntary manslaughter”.

Substandard Materials Uncovered

A top administrator stated that 7 of twenty tested samples of the scaffolding net used around the towers did not meet fire-retardant standards. Preliminary checks had found samples were up to code, but the spokesperson said the cheaper, noncompliant netting had been put in areas difficult to access in order to evade detection, labeling it a “deplorable deed”.

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

Civilians Arrested Amid Demands for Accountability

As allegations of safety lapses mount, alongside revelations that government authorities had issued multiple apparently unenforced warnings, the public have questioned why no officials have yet been held accountable. Conversely, two civilians were allegedly arrested by security forces.

A person, named as a Hong Kong student, was arrested over an online petition that made “four requests” for assured assistance for the affected families and accountability for those at to blame, including any corrupt or responsible public servants.

Local media said the individual was arrested for “seditious intention”. Law enforcement did not verify the arrest, saying only that they “will take actions according to the situation and in compliance with the law”.

News outlets also reported the arrest of a former district councillor.

Official Response on Detentions

Questioned about the detentions, the security chief said there had been “misleading statements on the internet” that were intended to threaten national security. “As a result, we must take appropriate measures, including police action,” the secretary told a media briefing. “Specifics of the operation cannot be disclosed as they involve national security.”

Social Media Response and Comparisons Made

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

Some commenters made parallels to mainland China. “There, such acts are termed ‘creating disturbances’,” said one commenter. “They are typically met with heavy sentences. Social order overrides everything.”

A different user said: “Now that we are following mainland China’s methods, by dealing with the person who raises the question, nobody will venture to question, and therefore the city's administration will have no problems.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Volunteer Efforts

The detentions came after advisories by national security authorities that they would take action against anyone deemed to be exploiting the tragedy to incite “anti-China” feelings.

Prior to the arrests, officials had already begun showing increased vigilance to the community response. Since the suppression of earlier protests, public assemblies have been strictly regulated. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers rapidly established aid operations, with hundreds of people employing cars and transit to bring in mountains of clothes, supplies and other essentials for the victims.

However, by evening, officers were monitoring the vicinity, and government officials soon 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 language of previous protest movements but did not call for political change.

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

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