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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, most of the apartment buildings at the estate—which was subject to significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that protective netting used around the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 suspects have been arrested for potential negligent homicide, comprising the senior figures of a contractor.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to ensure that all these deficiencies are eliminated," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the end of the week, approximately two days after it began, and required in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.

That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the inquiry could last three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have stated they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the fire broke out. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that detection devices in all eight blocks were operating inadequately.

The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended works on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, officers took into custody a young man on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was involved with a group petitioning for an independent inquiry into the fire. An internet-based appeal gathered in excess of 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, comprising a ex-local representative, were also taken in by authorities, according to news outlets.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both denounced the reported arrests.

"The moment has come for the city's officials to transparently investigate the reasons of the tragic incident...rather than silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Background and Resident Profile

The residential complex was built in 1983 and had provided close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 occupants, according to a recent official survey.

Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are estimated to be at least 65 years old. Several have been occupants of the public housing complex from its inception.

Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on in history took 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when more than 600 individuals died.