HONG KONG, CHINA – Anti-corruption authorities in Hong Kong arrested five additional individuals on Monday in connection with last week’s deadly apartment fire, bringing the total facing possible manslaughter charges to 13. The death toll from the blaze at Wang Fuk Court has reached 151, with around 40 residents still missing.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating the fire, which occurred at a 31-story complex in the New Territories housing roughly 4,600 people. The probe targets key figures, including directors of the main construction contractor and an engineering consultant, as well as principals of subcontractors responsible for scaffolding and the exterior renovation work. Officials noted that bamboo scaffolding wrapped in nylon mesh sleeves may have contributed to the fire’s rapid spread.
Tests on 20 samples of the mesh netting revealed that seven did not meet fire-retardant standards, and substandard netting had reportedly been placed in hard-to-reach areas to avoid detection, Hong Kong Chief Secretary Eric Chan said. Fire alarms in the buildings were also found to be malfunctioning. Chan condemned the substitution of cheaper, unsafe materials as prioritizing profit over safety.
The government has suspended 30 other construction projects across Hong Kong, most managed by the same contractor. Public anger has intensified over allegations of prior safety breaches and lax enforcement of regulations despite repeated resident complaints over the past year.
Authorities have also detained three members of the public under national security laws, sparking criticism. Former district councilman Kenneth Cheung and a volunteer were accused of inciting “hatred of the government,” while student Miles Kwan was arrested for launching an online petition demanding guaranteed support for fire victims and accountability for corrupt or negligent officials. Kwan maintained that his petition, titled “Four Demands,” simply sought basic remedies.
The arrests prompted widespread online criticism, with social media users mocking the authorities’ focus on alleged sedition while questions remain about the deadly fire. Some commentators drew parallels to China’s governance style, noting that addressing whistleblowers instead of systemic failures could deter public scrutiny in the future.