The city's Chief Executive Directs Investigation into Deadly Fire that Took 151

The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, seven of eight apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting installed on the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.

A minimum of 13 people have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, including the senior figures of a construction company.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to make certain all these deficiencies are plucked," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—that propagated rapidly both upwards and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it began, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

The same day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the probe could take approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have said they did not hear a smoke detector when the fire erupted. Hong Kong's fire service determined that detection devices in every tower were malfunctioning.

The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended construction activities on 30 private projects.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on suspicion of sedition on the weekend. He was part of a group petitioning for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An digital signature drive gathered more than 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its information was removed.

Two other people, among them a former district councillor, were also taken in by authorities, as reported by news outlets.

Global Response

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both condemned the reported arrests.

"This is the occasion for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the devastating fire...rather than suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was constructed in the early 1980s and had offered close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 inhabitants, per a 2021 government census.

Almost four in ten of its residents are thought to be older than 65 years old. A number have lived in the subsidised housing estate since it was built.

The city's second-worst blaze on in history killed 176 individuals in 1948 and was the result of a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 attendees lost their lives.