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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to examine the reasons of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, most of the apartment buildings at the estate—which was subject to significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, among them the executives of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in different stages. That is exactly why we must act seriously to make certain all these deficiencies are addressed," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it started, and required in excess of 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

That very day, police began entering the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the inquiry could require three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have said they failed to hear a emergency siren when the incident erupted. Hong Kong's fire service found that alarms in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

The city's construction authority has put on hold renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on charges related to subversion on the weekend. He was involved with a gathering demanding an independent inquiry into the blaze. An internet-based appeal collected in excess of 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its information was removed.

Another two individuals, comprising a former district councillor, were also questioned by authorities, as reported by news outlets.

International Reaction

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

"The moment has come for the city's officials to transparently investigate the origins of the catastrophic blaze...rather than suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was constructed in 1983 and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 residents, according to a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are thought to be over 65 years old. Several have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since it was built.

The city's second-worst blaze on record killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in 1918, when over 600 individuals perished.