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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, most of the residential blocks at the estate—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting installed on the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, including the directors of a contractor.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. Hence we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these loopholes are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—which spread quickly both upwards and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, approximately two days after it began, and required in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the inquiry could last three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have stated they did not hear a smoke detector when the incident erupted. The city's fire department found that detection devices in each building were operating inadequately.

The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended construction activities on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on allegations of sedition on the weekend. He was part of a group calling for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An online petition gathered over 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

Two other people, comprising a former district councillor, were also detained by authorities, per local media reports.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both criticised the said apprehensions.

"Now is the time for the city's officials to transparently investigate the causes of the catastrophic blaze...instead of suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was completed in the early 1980s and had provided 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 inhabitants, based on a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are thought to be over 65 years of age. A number have lived in the government-supported development from its inception.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on in history killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when over 600 people died.