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Hong Kong authorities have arrested five more individuals in connection with last week’s devastating apartment complex fire, bringing the total number of people facing potential manslaughter charges to thirteen. The blaze, which occurred at Wang Fuk Court, has now claimed 151 lives, with approximately 40 residents still unaccounted for.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption has launched an extensive investigation into the tragedy. Among those arrested are the directors of the primary construction contractor and an engineering consultant, as well as principals of subcontractors responsible for the building’s scaffolding and exterior work. The thirteen individuals, twelve men and one woman, range in age from 44 to 77.
The 31-story buildings at Wang Fuk Court, home to 4,600 residents, were undergoing significant renovation when the fire erupted last Wednesday afternoon. Suspicion has largely focused on the bamboo scaffolding, which was encased in a nylon mesh sleeve around each building.
Public outrage has intensified following revelations of alleged previous safety breaches by the project contractor and lax enforcement of regulations by authorities. Residents had reportedly lodged numerous complaints over the past year regarding the renovation work.
Hong Kong Chief Secretary Eric Chan confirmed that seven of 20 mesh netting samples tested failed to meet fire-retardant standards. Initially, the netting appeared compliant, but subsequent tests of samples taken from less accessible areas revealed the critical safety failures. Chan condemned the “shameful” substitution of substandard, cheaper netting in hard-to-reach locations.
“They mixed together nets that met fire safety standards with ones that did not, and put the nets that did not meet safety standards in places that only firefighters can reach,” Chan stated, adding, “They just wanted to make money at the expense of people’s lives.” Authorities have also indicated that the buildings’ fire alarms were not functioning correctly.
In response to the tragedy, the government has suspended 30 other construction projects across Hong Kong, most of which were managed by the contractor involved in the Wang Fuk Court renovations.
Amidst these developments, questions are being raised regarding accountability, particularly after it was revealed that repeated warnings from authorities had gone unheeded. Critics are questioning why no officials have yet been held responsible, while three members of the public have been detained under national security laws on suspicion of sedition.
Former district councilman Kenneth Cheung and an unidentified volunteer assisting fire victims have reportedly been accused of inciting “hatred of the government.” Student Miles Kwan was detained Saturday for launching an online petition demanding guaranteed support for victims and accountability for those at fault, including any corrupt or culpable government officials.
Kwan’s petition, titled “Four Demands,” has drawn speculation from commentators who suggest authorities’ response may be due to its echoing of the “Five Demands” of the 2019-20 student protest movement against national security laws. However, Kwan maintains his petition merely sought basic remedies for the situation.
“If these ideas are deemed seditious or ‘crossing the line’, then I feel I can’t predict the consequences of anything anymore, and I can only do what I truly believe,” Kwan asserted.
News of these arrests has sparked mockery on social media, with one user writing, “National security must be prioritized even if the dead are still buried in the building.” Another post read, “Now we are aligning with mainland China’s approach, by dealing with the person who raises the question, no one will dare to ask questions, and thus Hong Kong’s governance will have no problems.”