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Authorities in Hong Kong have taken into custody thirteen people on suspicion of manslaughter related to last week’s catastrophic blaze, amid increasing criticism over the arrests of civilians demanding responsibility.

Ongoing Rescue Operations as Death Toll Rises

Rescue teams continued to search through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court residential area in Tai Po on Monday, following the most fatal blaze in seven and a half decades. The death toll rose to 151 and is expected to rise higher as the operation goes on. About forty people are still missing.

Construction Work Linked to Cause of Blaze

The housing complex, housing nearly five thousand people, had been in the midst of major refurbishment that have been associated with the fire’s cause. In the wake of the tragedy, public fury has grown over alleged past safety violations by the construction company working at the location and poor oversight of safety codes, spurred on by revelations that residents had been complaining about the renovations for a year.

Arrests Include Company Directors

On the afternoon of Monday, authorities said anti-corruption authorities had detained 13 people over the disaster so far, including the directors and an technical advisor of a construction company, and had “promptly initiated comprehensive investigation along the lines of involuntary manslaughter”.

Safety Failures Revealed

A top administrator stated that seven of 20 tested samples of the scaffolding net used around the buildings did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Preliminary checks had found samples were up to code, but the spokesperson said the cheaper, substandard material had been put in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, labeling it a “deplorable deed”.

“They just wanted to make money at the cost of human lives,” he said.

Civilians Detained Amid Calls for Accountability

As accusations of safety lapses grow, alongside reports that official bodies had issued multiple seemingly unenforced warnings, the public have questioned why no government figures have yet been held accountable. Instead, two members of the public were reportedly taken into custody by national security police.

A person, identified as a local student, was detained over an internet appeal that made “four requests” for assured assistance for the victims and responsibility for those at fault, including any corrupt or culpable public servants.

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

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

Official Response on Detentions

Questioned about the arrests, the security chief said there had been “misleading statements online” that were intended to threaten national security. “As a result, we must take appropriate measures, including law enforcement measures,” the secretary told a media briefing. “Operational details cannot be disclosed as they involve national security.”

Public Reaction and Parallels Made

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

Some commenters made parallels to the Chinese mainland. “The mainland, these crimes are termed ‘creating disturbances’,” said one commenter. “They are typically punished with heavy sentences. Social order trumps everything.”

Another said: “Since we are aligning with the mainland’s approach, by dealing with the person who asks questions, no one will venture to question, and therefore the city's administration will have no issues.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Community Response

The arrests followed warnings by national security authorities that they would crack down on anyone deemed to be using the tragedy to incite “hostile” sentiment.

Prior to the arrests, authorities had already demonstrated increased vigilance to the community response. Following the suppression of earlier unrest, civilian gatherings have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, volunteer supporters quickly organized aid operations, with many individuals using cars and public transport to deliver mountains of clothes, supplies and other necessities for the victims.

Nevertheless, by nightfall, officers were monitoring the area, and public authorities soon assumed control from the community coordinators.

The appeal over which the student was reportedly arrested was initiated late on Friday. Its “four demands” mirrored the terminology of previous campaigns but did not call for systemic reform.

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

“If these ideas are deemed subversive or ‘transgressive’, then I believe I cannot foresee the consequences of anything any more, and I can only do what I sincerely think is right,” he said.