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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, seven of eight apartment buildings at the housing complex—which was subject to major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting used around the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, comprising the executives of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to make certain all these loopholes are eliminated," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—that propagated rapidly both vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it started, and necessitated more than 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.

That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the investigation could last three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have said they did not hear a emergency siren when the incident started. Hong Kong's fire service determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

Hong Kong's buildings department has halted for now construction activities on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, officers took into custody a young man on suspicion of subversion on the weekend. He was part of a group calling for an separate review into the blaze. An digital signature drive collected in excess of 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, comprising a past council member, were also questioned by officers, as reported by local media reports.

Global Response

The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the alleged detentions.

"This is the occasion for the local government to openly examine the origins of the tragic incident...instead of muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was built in 1983 and had provided nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 occupants, per a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are believed to be over 65 years of age. Some have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since it was built.

The city's second-most fatal incident on in history claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when over 600 people died.