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The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

No fewer than 13 people have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, including the senior figures of a construction company.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must act seriously to ensure that all these gaps are addressed," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it began, and necessitated over 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.

That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the inquiry could require approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have reported they did not hear a smoke detector when the fire erupted. Hong Kong's fire service determined that warning systems in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold works on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, officers took into custody a young man on suspicion of incitement on Saturday. He was involved with a gathering petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An online petition gathered in excess of 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its information was removed.

Another two individuals, among them a ex-local representative, were also questioned by police, as reported by local media reports.

Global Response

The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the said apprehensions.

"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...rather than muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was completed in the early 1980s and had provided close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 residents, based on a recent official survey.

Almost four in ten of its residents are estimated to be over 65 years old. Several have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since it was built.

The city's second-most fatal incident on record took 176 people in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in 1918, when in excess of 600 attendees died.