The city's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 people.
On Wednesday last week, the majority of the residential blocks at the housing complex—which was subject to extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that protective netting used around the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.
A minimum of 13 people have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, comprising the directors of a building firm.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to make certain all these gaps are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee.
The blaze—which spread quickly both upwards and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it began, and took more than 2,000 firefighters to subdue.
On that day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the investigation could require three to four weeks.
Multiple inhabitants have stated they did not hear a fire alarm when the incident started. The city's fire department determined that warning systems in every tower were malfunctioning.
Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended works on three dozen private developments.
In a related development, police reportedly detained a individual on allegations of incitement on Saturday. He was among a gathering demanding an separate review into the fire. An digital signature drive amassed over 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.
Two other people, among them a past council member, were also questioned by police, as reported by news outlets.
The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both condemned the reported arrests.
"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the reasons of the tragic incident...rather than silencing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.
The residential complex was constructed in the early 1980s and had offered 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 occupants, based on a population count.
Almost four in ten of its residents are believed to be over 65 years of age. Some have lived in the government-supported development from its inception.
Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on record 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 deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when in excess of 600 people died.
