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The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, most of the residential blocks at the estate—which was subject to significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting used around the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, among them the senior figures of a contractor.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. Hence we must take decisive action to make certain all these deficiencies are addressed," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—advancing with speed both vertically and between the blocks—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it began, and required over 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

That very day, police began entering the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the investigation could take three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have stated they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the incident broke out. The city's fire department determined that alarms in every tower were malfunctioning.

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

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, officers took into custody a young man on suspicion of sedition on the weekend. He was part of a group calling for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An online petition collected in excess of 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

A pair of additional persons, among them a ex-local representative, were also taken in by officers, according to press accounts.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both condemned the alleged detentions.

"This is the occasion for the local government to transparently investigate the reasons of the tragic incident...instead of suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was built in 1983 and had offered nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 occupants, according to a population count.

Nearly 40% of its occupants are thought to be older than 65 years of age. A number have lived in the public housing complex since its construction.

The city's second-deadliest fire on record killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in 1918, when over 600 attendees died.