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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, comprising the executives of a construction company.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to guarantee all these deficiencies are eliminated," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—advancing with speed both vertically and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the end of the week, approximately two days after it started, and required in excess of 2,000 firefighters to contain.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the inquiry could require several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have stated they did not hear a emergency siren when the blaze started. Local firefighters determined that alarms in every tower were operating inadequately.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended construction activities on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on allegations of sedition on the weekend. He was part of a group petitioning for an separate review into the fire. An internet-based appeal collected in excess of 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its page was taken down.

Two other people, among them a past council member, were also taken in by authorities, according to local media reports.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both condemned the alleged detentions.

"This is the occasion for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...as opposed to suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was constructed in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 occupants, according to a population count.

Nearly 40% of its occupants are thought to be older than 65 years old. Some have lived in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on file took 176 people in 1948 and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a commercial building. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when over 600 individuals perished.