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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—went up in flames. Authorities later discovered that protective netting used around the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, comprising the executives of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these loopholes are addressed," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, approximately two days after it began, and necessitated more than 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the probe could last several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have said they did not hear a smoke detector when the blaze broke out. The city's fire department determined that warning systems in every tower were not working effectively.

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

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on allegations of sedition on Saturday. He was involved with a gathering petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An digital signature drive gathered more than 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its page was taken down.

A pair of additional persons, among them a former district councillor, were also detained by police, as reported by press accounts.

International Reaction

The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the alleged detentions.

"Now is the time for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the catastrophic blaze...rather than silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in 1983 and had provided close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 residents, according to a population count.

Almost four in ten of its occupants are believed to be older than 65 years old. Several have lived in the government-supported development since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on in history took 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 attendees died.