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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, most of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards.

A minimum of 13 individuals have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, among them the directors of a construction company.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. Hence we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these loopholes are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—advancing with speed both upwards and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by Friday morning, approximately two days after it started, and required more than 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Authorities say the investigation could take approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have reported they failed to hear a fire alarm when the blaze broke out. Local firefighters found that warning systems in each building were malfunctioning.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended construction activities on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, officers took into custody a 24-year-old man on suspicion of subversion on Saturday. He was involved with a collective petitioning for an independent inquiry into the fire. An online petition amassed in excess of 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.

A pair of additional persons, among them a ex-local representative, were also questioned by authorities, as reported by local media reports.

Global Response

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

"Now is the time for the city's officials to openly examine the reasons of the tragic incident...as opposed to suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 occupants, according to a recent official survey.

Nearly 40% of its residents are thought to be over 65 years old. Some have lived in the public housing complex since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on file killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The worst was at a local racetrack in 1918, when over 600 individuals perished.