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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, most of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting used around the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

No fewer than 13 suspects have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, among them the directors of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. Hence we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these loopholes are plucked," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—which spread quickly both upwards and between the blocks—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it began, and took over 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.

That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. 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 broke out. Local firefighters discovered that warning systems in each building were operating inadequately.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, officers took into custody a young man on charges related to sedition on the weekend. He was among a gathering petitioning for an separate review into the fire. An online petition gathered in excess of 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, among them a ex-local representative, were also detained by officers, according to news outlets.

Global Response

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both criticised the said apprehensions.

"Now is the time for the city's officials to transparently investigate the causes of the tragic incident...rather than silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was completed in 1983 and had offered close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 occupants, based on a 2021 government census.

Nearly 40% of its residents are thought to be older than 65 years old. Some have been occupants of the government-supported development since its construction.

The city's second-worst blaze on record killed 176 lives in 1948 and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when over 600 individuals died.