🔗 Share this article

Officials in the city have taken into custody 13 individuals on suspected charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with last week’s devastating fire, amidst increasing public outcry over the detentions of citizens calling for accountability.

Ongoing Rescue Operations as Death Toll Rises

Emergency services continued to search through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in the Tai Po district on Monday, following the most fatal blaze in seven and a half decades. The number of fatalities rose to one hundred and fifty-one and is anticipated to climb further as the search goes on. About forty people are still missing.

Renovations Linked to Cause of Blaze

The estate, home to nearly five thousand people, had been undergoing extensive renovations that have been associated with the fire’s cause. In the aftermath, public fury has grown over alleged past safety violations by the construction company working at the location and lax enforcement of safety codes, spurred on by disclosures that occupants had been voicing concerns over the renovations for a year.

Those Detained Include Company Directors

On the afternoon of Monday, officials said anti-corruption authorities had detained 13 people over the disaster so far, including the directors and an engineering consultant of a contracting firm, and had “promptly initiated a thorough probe along the lines of involuntary manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Revealed

A senior official stated that seven of twenty tested specimens of the scaffolding net used around the buildings did not meet fire-retardant standards. Initial testing had found materials were up to code, but the spokesperson said the cheaper, substandard material had been put in areas difficult to access in order to avoid discovery, labeling it a “shameful act”.

“Their sole aim was to profit at the cost of human lives,” he said.

Civilians Arrested Amid Calls for Answers

As accusations of safety lapses grow, alongside reports that government authorities had issued multiple apparently ignored cautions, residents have asked why no officials have yet been held accountable. Conversely, two civilians were reportedly arrested by national security police.

One individual, identified 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 fault, including any negligent or culpable government officials.

Reports said the student was arrested for “inciting disaffection”. Law enforcement did not verify the arrest, saying only that they “will take actions according to actual circumstances and in accordance with the law”.

News outlets also covered the detention of a former district councillor.

Government Statement on Arrests

Asked about the arrests, the security chief said there had been “inaccurate comments online” that were aimed to threaten national security. “Therefore, we must take necessary steps, including law enforcement measures,” the official told a media briefing. “Specifics of the operation cannot be disclosed as they involve state security.”

Social Media Response and Parallels Made

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

Some commenters made parallels to the Chinese mainland. “There, these crimes are called ‘creating disturbances’,” said a user. “It’s usually punished with severe penalties. Stability overrides everything.”

A different user said: “Now that we are following mainland China’s approach, by targeting the person who asks questions, nobody will venture to question, and thus Hong Kong’s governance will have no issues.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Volunteer Efforts

The detentions came after advisories by national security authorities that they would crack down on anyone considered to be using the incident to stir up “hostile” sentiment.

Prior to the arrests, officials had already begun showing heightened sensitivity to the public reaction. Following the quelling of earlier protests, public assemblies have been strictly regulated. In the immediate aftermath, volunteer supporters quickly organized relief efforts, with hundreds of people employing vehicles and public transport to deliver large quantities of clothes, supplies and other necessities for the survivors.

However, by nightfall, armed police were patrolling the area, and public authorities eventually took over from the volunteer organisers.

The petition over which the individual was allegedly detained was initiated late on Friday. Its “four points” mirrored the terminology of past campaigns but did not advocate political change.

The individual told reporters that he was only “putting forward fundamental demands”.

“If these ideas are deemed subversive or ‘crossing the line’, then I feel I cannot foresee the outcomes of anything any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is right,” he stated.