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Authorities in the city have taken into custody 13 individuals on suspicion of manslaughter related to last week’s catastrophic blaze, amidst growing public outcry over the arrests of civilians demanding responsibility.

Ongoing Rescue Operations as Fatalities Rises

Rescue teams persisted in combing through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court residential area in Tai Po on Monday, days after the city’s deadliest fire in 75 years. The death toll rose to 151 and is anticipated to climb further as the operation continues. Approximately 40 people are still missing.

Renovations Linked to Cause of Blaze

The housing complex, home to almost 5,000 people, had been undergoing extensive renovations that have been linked to the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, public fury has escalated over reported previous safety breaches by the construction company working at the site and lax enforcement of safety codes, fuelled by revelations that residents had been complaining about the renovations for a twelve months.

Arrests Include Corporate Executives

On Monday afternoon, authorities said anti-corruption authorities had arrested 13 people over the tragedy so far, including the directors and an technical advisor of a construction company, and had “immediately begun a thorough probe along the lines of involuntary manslaughter”.

Substandard Materials Revealed

A senior official stated that 7 of twenty tested samples of the scaffolding net used around the buildings did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Preliminary checks had found materials were up to code, but the official said the cheaper, substandard material had been put in areas difficult to access in order to avoid discovery, labeling it a “deplorable deed”.

“Their sole aim was to make money at the expense of human lives,” the official stated.

Citizens Arrested Amid Demands for Answers

As accusations of safety violations mount, alongside revelations that official bodies had issued multiple apparently unenforced warnings, the public have questioned why no officials have yet faced consequences. Instead, two members of the public were reportedly taken into custody by security forces.

A person, identified as a Hong Kong student, was detained over an online petition that made “four demands” for assured assistance for the victims and accountability for those at to blame, including any corrupt or responsible government officials.

Reports said the individual was arrested for “seditious intention”. Law enforcement did not verify the detention, saying only that they “will act according to the situation and in accordance with the law”.

Local media also reported the arrest of a former district councillor.

Government Statement on Arrests

Questioned about the detentions, the secretary of security said there had been “misleading statements online” that were aimed to threaten national security. “Therefore, we must take appropriate measures, including law enforcement measures,” the secretary told a press conference. “Operational details cannot be disclosed as they involve national security.”

Social Media Response and Parallels Made

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

Some commenters made parallels to mainland China. “There, these crimes are termed ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said one commenter. “They are typically met with severe penalties. Social order overrides everything.”

A different user said: “Since we are following mainland China’s methods, by targeting the individual who raises the question, nobody will dare to ask, and therefore the city's administration will have no problems.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Community Response

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

Prior to the arrests, authorities had already begun showing heightened sensitivity to the public reaction. Following the quelling of earlier protests, civilian gatherings have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers rapidly established relief efforts, with hundreds of people using vehicles and public transport to bring in mountains of garments, food and other necessities for the victims.

However, by nightfall, officers were patrolling the vicinity, and government officials soon assumed control from the volunteer organisers.

The petition over which the individual was reportedly arrested was launched late on Friday. Its “four points” mirrored the language of past protest movements but did not advocate political change.

The individual told reporters 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 outcomes of any action any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is right,” he said.