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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

A minimum of 13 people have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, including the executives of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. Hence we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these loopholes are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it began, and necessitated over 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.

The same day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the probe could take three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have said they did not hear a emergency siren when the blaze started. Local firefighters determined that warning systems in every tower were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended works on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, police reportedly detained a young man on allegations of subversion on Saturday. He was part of a group petitioning for an independent inquiry into the fire. An digital signature drive amassed more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, including a ex-local representative, were also questioned by authorities, per press accounts.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both condemned the said apprehensions.

"The moment has come for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the tragic incident...as opposed to suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was built in 1983 and had provided 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 residents, per a 2021 government census.

Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are believed to be older than 65 years of age. Some have resided in the government-supported development since it was built.

The city's second-worst blaze on record claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when over 600 people lost their lives.