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The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a catastrophic blaze that killed at least 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, seven of eight residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that construction site netting used around the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 individuals have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, including the senior figures of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in various phases. Hence we must take decisive action to ensure that all these gaps are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—advancing with speed both upwards and between the blocks—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it ignited, and took in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the inquiry could require several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have stated they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the incident erupted. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were operating inadequately.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold works on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, officers took into custody a individual on allegations of sedition on Saturday. He was among a group calling for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An digital signature drive amassed over 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, comprising a former district councillor, were also detained by police, per local media reports.

Global Response

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the alleged detentions.

"This is the occasion for the local government to openly examine the causes of the tragic incident...instead of suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was completed in 1983 and had supplied close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 residents, based on a recent official survey.

Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are estimated to be older than 65 years old. A number have resided in the public housing complex from its inception.

The city's second-deadliest fire on in history killed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when over 600 attendees died.