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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

At least 13 individuals have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, comprising the senior figures of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in different stages. Hence we must act seriously to make certain all these deficiencies are eliminated," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The fire—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by Friday morning, approximately two days after it started, and required more than 2,000 emergency responders to contain.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the inquiry could last several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have reported they failed to hear a fire alarm when the fire broke out. Hong Kong's fire service found that alarms in every tower were operating inadequately.

The relevant regulatory body has halted for now construction activities on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was among a group calling for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal collected more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its contents were wiped.

Two other people, comprising a former district councillor, were also taken in by police, per press accounts.

Global Response

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both criticised the reported arrests.

"Now is the time for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the devastating fire...as opposed to silencing those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in the early 1980s and had offered 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 residents, based on a population count.

Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are thought to be at least 65 years old. Some have resided in the public housing complex since its construction.

The city's second-deadliest fire on record took 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when more than 600 individuals died.