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Authorities in the city have taken into custody 13 individuals on suspected charges of manslaughter in connection with last week’s devastating fire, amidst increasing criticism over the detentions of civilians demanding responsibility.

Search Continues as Death Toll Climbs

Rescue teams continued to search through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court residential area in the Tai Po district on Monday, days after the city’s deadliest fire in seven and a half decades. The death toll reached one hundred and fifty-one and is anticipated to climb further as the operation goes on. Approximately 40 people are still missing.

Construction Work Linked to Fire’s Cause

The housing complex, housing nearly 5,000 people, had been undergoing extensive renovations that have been linked to the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, public fury has grown over reported previous safety breaches by the contractor working at the location and lax enforcement of standards, fuelled by revelations that occupants had been voicing concerns over the renovations for a year.

Arrests Include Corporate Executives

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

Safety Failures Revealed

A top administrator stated that 7 of 20 tested specimens of the mesh netting used around the buildings did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Initial testing had found materials were up to code, but the spokesperson said the cheaper, noncompliant netting had been put in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, describing it as a “deplorable deed”.

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

Civilians Arrested Amid Demands for Answers

As accusations of safety lapses mount, alongside reports that government authorities had issued several seemingly unenforced warnings, residents have questioned why no government figures have yet been held accountable. Conversely, two members of the public were allegedly taken into custody by national security police.

A person, identified as a Hong Kong student, was arrested over an online petition that made “four demands” for assured assistance for the victims and responsibility for those at fault, including any negligent or responsible government officials.

Local media said the student was arrested for “inciting disaffection”. Police did not verify the arrest, saying only that they “will take actions according to the situation and in compliance with the law”.

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

Official Response on Arrests

Questioned about the arrests, the secretary of security said there had been “misleading statements online” that were intended to threaten national security. “As a result, we must take appropriate measures, including police action,” the secretary told a press conference. “Specifics of the operation cannot be disclosed as they involve state security.”

Social Media Response and Comparisons Drawn

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

Some commenters made parallels to the Chinese mainland. “There, such acts are called ‘creating disturbances’,” said one commenter. “It’s usually met with heavy sentences. Social order overrides everything.”

A different user said: “Since we are following mainland China’s methods, by dealing with the individual who asks questions, nobody will venture to question, and therefore the city's administration will have no issues.”

Increased Scrutiny and Community Response

The arrests came after warnings by national security authorities that they would crack down on anyone considered to be exploiting the incident to stir up “anti-China” feelings.

Before the detentions, officials had already demonstrated heightened sensitivity to the community response. Following the quelling of earlier protests, public assemblies have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, volunteer supporters quickly organized relief efforts, with hundreds of people employing cars and transit to bring in mountains of garments, supplies and other necessities for the victims.

However, by evening, officers were patrolling the area, and public authorities eventually took over from the community coordinators.

The appeal over which the student was reportedly detained was initiated late on Friday. Its “four points” echoed the language of previous campaigns but did not advocate political change.

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

“Should these suggestions are deemed subversive or ‘crossing the line’, then I believe I cannot foresee the outcomes of anything any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is correct,” he said.