Three people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over a deadly fire which engulfed a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong.

Authorities say at least 44 people, including one firefighter, have been killed and about 279 are still missing from the blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po - a suburban district with around 300,000 residents in the city's north, near the border with mainland China.

A further 45 are in hospital in a critical condition, with around 900 people also in shelters.

"The priority is to extinguish the fire and rescue the residents who are trapped," Hong Kong leader John Lee said during an early morning news conference.

"The second is to support the injured. The third is to support and recover. Then, we'll launch a thorough investigation."

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