🔗 Share this article

Officials in Hong Kong have detained 13 people on suspected charges of involuntary manslaughter related to last week’s devastating fire, amidst growing criticism over the arrests of citizens demanding responsibility.

Ongoing Rescue Operations as Fatalities Climbs

Emergency services persisted in combing through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in the Tai Po district on the start of the week, following the city’s deadliest fire in seven and a half decades. The number of fatalities reached 151 and is expected to rise higher as the search goes on. About 40 people are currently missing.

Renovations Linked to Fire’s Cause

The housing complex, housing nearly 5,000 people, had been undergoing extensive renovations that have been associated with the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, anger has escalated over alleged previous safety breaches by the contractor working at the location and lax enforcement of standards, fuelled by revelations that occupants had been complaining about the work for a twelve months.

Arrests Include Corporate Executives

On Monday afternoon, authorities said anti-corruption authorities had detained thirteen people over the tragedy so far, including the executives and an engineering consultant of a contracting firm, and had “promptly initiated comprehensive investigation along the lines of involuntary manslaughter”.

Substandard Materials Revealed

A senior official stated that 7 of twenty tested samples of the mesh netting used around the towers did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Preliminary checks had found samples were up to code, but the spokesperson said the less expensive, noncompliant netting had been installed in areas difficult to access in order to evade detection, describing it as a “deplorable deed”.

“They just wanted to make money at the cost of people’s lives,” the official stated.

Civilians Arrested Amid Demands for Answers

As accusations of safety violations mount, alongside revelations that official bodies had issued several seemingly ignored cautions, residents have questioned why no government figures have yet faced consequences. Instead, two members of the public were allegedly taken into custody by national security police.

A person, identified as a Hong Kong student, was detained over an online petition that made “four demands” for assured assistance for the affected families and responsibility for those at to blame, including any negligent or culpable public servants.

Local media said the individual was arrested for “seditious intention”. Police did not confirm the arrest, saying only that they “will act according to the situation and in accordance with the legal framework”.

News outlets also reported the detention of a ex-local representative.

Government Statement on Detentions

Questioned about the arrests, the security chief said there had been “inaccurate comments online” that were intended to threaten national security. “As a result, we must take appropriate measures, including law enforcement measures,” the secretary told a press conference. “Specifics of the operation cannot be revealed as they involve state security.”

Public Reaction and Comparisons Made

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

Some commenters made parallels to mainland China. “The mainland, such acts are termed ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said one commenter. “It’s usually punished with heavy sentences. Stability trumps everything.”

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

Increased Scrutiny and Community Response

The detentions came after warnings by security officials that they would crack down on anyone considered to be exploiting the tragedy to incite “anti-China” sentiment.

Before the detentions, authorities had already demonstrated increased vigilance to the community response. Since the suppression of earlier protests, public assemblies have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers quickly organized aid operations, with hundreds of people using cars and transit to deliver large quantities of garments, supplies and other essentials for the survivors.

Nevertheless, by nightfall, armed police were monitoring the area, and public authorities soon took over from the community coordinators.

The petition over which the student was allegedly detained was initiated late on Friday. Its “four demands” mirrored the language of previous campaigns but did not advocate political change.

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

“If these ideas are deemed seditious or ‘crossing the line’, then I feel I can’t predict the consequences of any action any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is correct,” he stated.