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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, most of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting installed on the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, comprising the senior figures of a contractor.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in different stages. Hence we must take decisive action to guarantee all these gaps are addressed," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—advancing with speed both vertically and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it started, and took more than 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the inquiry could take approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have said they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the incident erupted. Local firefighters discovered that warning systems in every tower were malfunctioning.

The city's construction authority has halted for now renovation projects on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, police reportedly detained a young man on charges related to subversion on the weekend. He was involved with a gathering calling for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An digital signature drive amassed over 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, including a past council member, were also taken in by officers, according to news outlets.

Global Response

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both denounced the said apprehensions.

"Now is the time for the local government to openly examine the causes of the devastating fire...as opposed to muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was constructed in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 inhabitants, according to a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are estimated to be over 65 years old. Some have been occupants of the government-supported development since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on in history claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was the result of a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 attendees lost their lives.