Hong Kong Arrests 13 on Suspected Charges of Manslaughter Over Residential Fires

Officials in the city have detained 13 individuals on suspicion of manslaughter related to last week’s catastrophic blaze, amidst growing public outcry over the detentions of citizens demanding responsibility.

Search Continues as Death Toll Rises

Emergency services persisted in combing through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po on the start of the week, days after the most fatal blaze in 75 years. The death toll rose to 151 and is expected to rise further as the operation continues. Approximately forty people are still missing.

Construction Work Linked to Cause of Blaze

The housing complex, housing almost five thousand people, had been undergoing extensive renovations that have been associated with the origin of the blaze. In the wake of the tragedy, anger has escalated over reported past safety violations by the construction company working at the site and poor oversight of standards, fuelled by disclosures that residents had been complaining about the work for a year.

Those Detained Include Company Directors

On the afternoon of Monday, officials said the anti-graft agency had arrested thirteen people over the disaster so far, including the directors and an engineering consultant 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 twenty tested samples of the mesh netting used around the buildings did not meet flame-resistance requirements. Initial testing had found samples were compliant, but the official said the less expensive, substandard netting had been put in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, labeling it a “shameful act”.

“Their sole aim was to profit at the expense of people’s lives,” the official stated.

Citizens Arrested Amid Calls for Accountability

As accusations of safety violations mount, alongside revelations that government authorities had issued multiple seemingly ignored cautions, the public have asked why no government figures have yet been held accountable. Conversely, two civilians were allegedly taken into custody by national security police.

One individual, named as a Hong Kong student, was arrested over an internet appeal that made “four demands” for guaranteed support for the affected families and accountability for those at to blame, including any corrupt or responsible public servants.

Reports said the student was detained for “inciting disaffection”. Police did not verify the detention, saying only that they “will act according to the situation and in compliance with the legal framework”.

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

Official Response on Detentions

Asked about the arrests, the security chief said there had been “inaccurate comments online” that were aimed to undermine public security. “Therefore, we must take appropriate measures, including law enforcement measures,” the official told a press conference. “Specifics of the operation cannot be revealed as they concern state security.”

Social Media Response and Parallels Drawn

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

Some commenters made parallels to the Chinese mainland. “The mainland, these crimes are termed ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said one commenter. “They are typically met with heavy sentences. Social order trumps everything.”

A different user said: “Since we are following mainland China’s methods, by targeting the person who raises the question, nobody will venture to question, and thus Hong Kong’s governance will have no problems.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Community Response

The detentions came after warnings by national security authorities that they would crack down on anyone deemed to be using the incident to incite “hostile” feelings.

Before the detentions, officials had already begun showing heightened sensitivity to the community response. Following the suppression of earlier protests, civilian gatherings have been tightly controlled. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers quickly organized relief efforts, with hundreds of people employing vehicles and public transport to deliver mountains of clothes, food and other necessities for the victims.

However, by nightfall, officers were patrolling the vicinity, and public authorities eventually assumed control from the volunteer organisers.

The appeal over which the student was reportedly detained was launched late on Friday. Its “four points” echoed the terminology of previous protest movements but did not advocate systemic reform.

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

“Should these suggestions are considered subversive or ‘crossing the line’, then I believe I can’t predict the outcomes of any action any more, and I can only do what I sincerely think is right,” he stated.