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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, the majority of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting installed on the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.

At least 13 people have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, comprising the executives of a contractor.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in various phases. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these loopholes are eliminated," stated the leader.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it started, and necessitated over 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

The same day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the investigation could require three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have reported they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the fire broke out. The city's fire department found that warning systems in every tower were malfunctioning.

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

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, police reportedly detained a individual on charges related to sedition on Saturday. He was part of a gathering petitioning for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An online petition gathered over 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its information was removed.

Another two individuals, including a ex-local representative, were also detained by police, as reported by local media reports.

Global Response

The rights group and The monitoring body have both denounced the said apprehensions.

"This is the occasion for the local government to openly examine the causes of the devastating fire...instead of muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was constructed in 1983 and had supplied 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 occupants, according to a population count.

Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are thought to be older than 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate from its inception.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on record killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 attendees lost their lives.