Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee has ordered an independent committee to investigate the tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court that killed at least 151 people. The fire engulfed seven of eight tower blocks last Wednesday during ongoing renovations. Officials found that protective netting around the buildings did not meet fire safety standards. At least 13 people, including construction company directors, were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. The blaze is the deadliest in Hong Kong in more than 70 years. The death toll may rise as recovery continues. Lee said the committee, led by a judge, will work on "comprehensive reform" to stop similar disasters in the future. At a news conference, he admitted reform is needed but did not directly answer why he should remain in office. "Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages," he said. The fire spread rapidly across tower blocks, fueled by flammable mesh netting. It took over 2,000 firefighters nearly 40 hours to fully put out the flames. Authorities found fire alarms in all eight buildings were not working properly. Construction work on 30 private projects was temporarily halted by Hong Kong’s buildings department. Meanwhile, police detained a 24-year-old man and two others connected with calls for an independent inquiry into the fire. An online petition demanding a probe was quickly removed after gathering over 10,000 signatures. Addressing the arrests, Lee said, "criminals that commit offences must be taken to justice," adding he will not tolerate crimes that exploit the tragedy. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch criticized these moves, urging for open investigation instead of silencing questions. Wang Fuk Court housed about 4,600 residents, many elderly, since being built in 1983. Hong Kong’s deadliest fire occurred in 1918 at Happy Valley Racecourse with over 600 dead. The second deadliest was a 1948 warehouse blaze killing 176. This latest disaster highlights critical fire safety failures and is driving urgent demands for change.