Hong Kong Detains Thirteen on Suspicion of Manslaughter Over Apartment Blaze

Officials in Hong Kong have taken into custody 13 individuals on suspected charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with last week’s devastating fire, amidst growing criticism over the detentions of civilians demanding responsibility.

Search Continues as Fatalities Rises

Rescue teams continued to search through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court estate in the Tai Po district on the start of the week, days after the most fatal blaze in seven and a half decades. The death toll reached 151 and is expected to rise further as the operation goes on. About forty people are currently unaccounted for.

Renovations Linked to Cause of Blaze

The estate, housing nearly five thousand people, had been undergoing major refurbishment that have been linked to the fire’s cause. In the aftermath, anger has grown over reported previous safety breaches by the contractor working at the location and poor oversight of standards, spurred on by disclosures that residents had been complaining about the work for a year.

Those Detained Include Corporate Executives

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

Substandard Materials Revealed

A senior official stated that seven of 20 tested specimens of the scaffolding net used around the towers did not meet fire-retardant standards. Initial testing had found samples were compliant, but the official said the cheaper, noncompliant material had been put in areas hard to reach in order to avoid discovery, labeling it a “deplorable deed”.

“They just wanted to profit at the expense of people’s lives,” he said.

Civilians Detained Amid Calls for Accountability

As accusations of safety lapses grow, alongside revelations that government authorities had issued multiple apparently unenforced warnings, the public have asked why no officials have yet faced consequences. Instead, two civilians were reportedly arrested by national security police.

One individual, identified as a local 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 corrupt or culpable public servants.

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

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

Government Statement on Arrests

Asked about the detentions, the security chief said there had been “misleading statements online” that were aimed to undermine public security. “As a result, we must take necessary steps, including law enforcement measures,” the secretary told a media briefing. “Operational details cannot be disclosed as they concern national security.”

Public Reaction and Comparisons Drawn

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

Several users drew comparisons to the Chinese mainland. “The mainland, these crimes are termed ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said one commenter. “It’s usually punished with severe penalties. Stability trumps everything.”

Another said: “Now that we are following mainland China’s methods, by dealing with the individual who raises the question, nobody will dare to ask, and therefore the city's administration will have no issues.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Community Response

The arrests came after warnings by security officials that they would crack down on anyone deemed to be using the incident to stir up “hostile” feelings.

Before the detentions, officials had already begun showing heightened sensitivity to the community response. Following the suppression of earlier protests, public assemblies have been tightly controlled. In the days following the fire, volunteer supporters rapidly established relief efforts, with many individuals using cars and public transport to deliver mountains of garments, supplies and other essentials for the survivors.

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

The appeal over which the individual was reportedly detained was initiated late on Friday. Its “four points” echoed the language of past campaigns but did not call for systemic reform.

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

“Should these suggestions are considered seditious or ‘transgressive’, then I believe I can’t predict the consequences of any action any more, and I can only do what I sincerely think is right,” he said.