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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, seven of eight residential blocks at the estate—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 people have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, comprising the senior figures of a construction company.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to make certain all these loopholes are eliminated," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—advancing with speed both vertically and from building to building—was finally put out by Friday morning, approximately two days after it ignited, and required more than 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the inquiry could require three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have reported they did not hear a smoke detector when the incident started. Local firefighters discovered that warning systems in every tower were malfunctioning.

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

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, officers took into custody a young man on charges related to subversion on the weekend. He was among a group petitioning for an separate review into the blaze. An digital signature drive collected more than 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

Two other people, among them a past council member, were also questioned by authorities, per press accounts.

International Reaction

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

"Now is the time for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the tragic incident...rather than muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was constructed in the early 1980s and had supplied close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 inhabitants, based on a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are believed to be at least 65 years of age. Several have been occupants of the public housing complex since its construction.

The city's second-worst blaze on file killed 176 lives in 1948 and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when more than 600 individuals lost their lives.