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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, the majority of the tower blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—went up in flames. Authorities later discovered that protective netting surrounding the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 suspects have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, among them the senior figures of a contractor.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. Hence we must act seriously to ensure that all these deficiencies are plucked," stated the leader.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—advancing with speed both vertically and from building to building—was finally put out by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it began, and took over 2,000 firefighters to contain.

That very day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the investigation could last three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have reported they did not hear a emergency siren when the fire broke out. Hong Kong's fire service determined that alarms in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

The city's construction authority has put on hold construction activities on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, officers took into custody a young man on charges related to sedition on the weekend. He was involved with a collective calling for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An online petition gathered more than 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, comprising a past council member, were also questioned by authorities, per press accounts.

Global Response

The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both denounced the said apprehensions.

"Now is the time for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...instead of suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was built in 1983 and had offered nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 occupants, per a recent official survey.

Almost four in ten of its residents are thought to be older than 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since it was built.

The city's second-deadliest fire on in history claimed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when more than 600 individuals lost their lives.