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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that killed at least 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that construction site netting surrounding the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 people have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, comprising the directors of a contractor.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. Hence we must take decisive action to make certain all these loopholes are eliminated," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it started, and took more than 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.

The same day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the investigation could last approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have stated they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the incident started. Hong Kong's fire service determined that detection devices in every tower were operating inadequately.

The relevant regulatory body has halted for now works on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, police reportedly detained a individual on suspicion of subversion on the weekend. He was involved with a gathering calling for an independent inquiry into the fire. An online petition gathered in excess of 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its page was taken down.

Another two individuals, including a ex-local representative, were also taken in by authorities, as reported by local media reports.

Global Response

The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both condemned the said apprehensions.

"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the reasons of the devastating fire...as opposed to suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was completed in the early 1980s and had offered 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 residents, per a 2021 government census.

Almost four in ten of its occupants are estimated to be over 65 years of age. Some have resided in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

The city's second-most fatal incident on record killed 176 people in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in 1918, when more than 600 individuals lost their lives.