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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, most of the residential blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

No fewer than 13 suspects have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, among them the executives of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to guarantee all these gaps are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was finally put out by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it ignited, and required over 2,000 firefighters to contain.

That very day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the probe could take approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have stated they failed to hear a smoke detector when the fire broke out. Local firefighters determined that alarms in every tower were operating inadequately.

Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold works on 30 private projects.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, officers took into custody a young man on allegations of subversion on Saturday. He was part of a collective petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An digital signature drive amassed over 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its page was taken down.

Another two individuals, among them a past council member, were also taken in by officers, according to local media reports.

Global Response

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both denounced the alleged detentions.

"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the causes of the tragic incident...as opposed to muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was constructed in 1983 and had offered close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 residents, per a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are believed to be over 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the public housing complex since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on record claimed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a commercial building. The worst was at a local racetrack in 1918, when over 600 people lost their lives.