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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the housing complex—which was subject to major refurbishment—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that protective netting installed on the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.

A minimum of 13 people have been arrested for potential negligent homicide, comprising the directors of a contractor.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to ensure that all these loopholes are addressed," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—advancing with speed both upwards and from building to building—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it began, and required in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the inquiry could last three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have stated they did not hear a smoke detector when the incident broke out. Local firefighters discovered that detection devices in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

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

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on suspicion of subversion on Saturday. He was involved with a group calling for an independent inquiry into the blaze. An internet-based appeal collected in excess of 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its page was taken down.

Another two individuals, comprising a past council member, were also questioned by officers, per news outlets.

Global Response

The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the reported arrests.

"This is the occasion for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to silencing those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

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

Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are believed to be older than 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 record claimed 176 lives in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when more than 600 individuals lost their lives.