Hong Kong Arrests 13 on Suspicion of Involuntary Manslaughter Over Residential Fires

Authorities in Hong Kong have taken into custody thirteen people on suspected charges of involuntary manslaughter related to the recent catastrophic blaze, amid increasing criticism over the arrests of citizens calling for responsibility.

Ongoing Rescue Operations as Fatalities Rises

Emergency services continued to search through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in the Tai Po district on Monday, following the city’s deadliest fire in 75 years. The number of fatalities rose to one hundred and fifty-one and is expected to rise higher as the search goes on. About 40 people are currently unaccounted for.

Construction Work Linked to Fire’s Cause

The housing complex, housing nearly five thousand people, had been undergoing extensive renovations that have been associated with the fire’s cause. In the aftermath, public fury has grown over alleged previous safety breaches by the contractor working at the site and lax enforcement of safety codes, spurred on by revelations that occupants had been voicing concerns over the work for a twelve months.

Those Detained Include Company Directors

On Monday afternoon, authorities said the anti-graft agency had arrested 13 people over the disaster so far, including the directors and an engineering consultant of a construction company, and had “immediately begun comprehensive investigation along the lines of manslaughter”.

Substandard Materials Revealed

A senior official stated that 7 of 20 tested specimens of the scaffolding net used around the towers did not meet fire-retardant standards. Preliminary checks had found materials were up to code, but the official said the less expensive, substandard netting had been installed in areas hard to reach in order to avoid discovery, describing it as a “shameful act”.

“Their sole aim was to profit at the cost of people’s lives,” he said.

Civilians Detained Amid Demands for Answers

As accusations of safety lapses grow, alongside revelations that official bodies had issued multiple seemingly ignored cautions, the public have questioned why no officials have yet been held accountable. Conversely, two civilians were allegedly taken into custody by security forces.

One individual, identified as a Hong Kong student, was detained over an internet appeal that made “four requests” for assured assistance for the affected families and responsibility for those at fault, 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 take actions according to actual circumstances and in compliance with the legal framework”.

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

Official Response on Detentions

Questioned about the arrests, the secretary of security said there had been “inaccurate comments on the internet” that were aimed to threaten national security. “As a result, we must take necessary steps, including law enforcement measures,” the secretary told a press conference. “Specifics of the operation cannot be disclosed as they concern national security.”

Public Reaction and Comparisons Drawn

On local online platforms, people criticised the arrests of civilians. “National security must be prioritised even if the victims are still trapped in the building,” said one.

Several users drew comparisons to mainland China. “The mainland, such acts are called ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said one commenter. “They are typically punished with severe penalties. Social order overrides everything.”

Another said: “Since we are following mainland China’s approach, by targeting the person who raises the question, no one will venture to question, and therefore Hong Kong’s governance will have no issues.”

Increased Scrutiny and Community Response

The detentions followed advisories by security officials that they would take action against anyone deemed to be using the tragedy to incite “hostile” sentiment.

Before the arrests, officials had already begun showing heightened sensitivity to the community response. Following the suppression of earlier unrest, civilian gatherings have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers rapidly established aid operations, with many individuals using vehicles and transit to deliver mountains of clothes, supplies and other essentials for the victims.

Nevertheless, by evening, officers were patrolling the vicinity, and public authorities eventually took over from the volunteer organisers.

The petition over which the individual was allegedly detained was initiated late on Friday. Its “four points” mirrored the terminology of past campaigns but did not advocate political change.

The student told reporters that he was only “putting forward very basic requests”.

“Should these suggestions are considered seditious or ‘crossing the line’, then I feel I cannot foresee the consequences of any action any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is correct,” he said.