Extreme heat grips Hong Kong as labour groups urge district-level index

Hong Kong remained gripped by extreme heat on Wednesday with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) in parts of the city, prompting labour representatives to urge authorities to introduce a district-level index to better protect outdoor workers.

The Very Hot Weather Warning and the Amber Heat Stress at Work Warning have been in effect since Wednesday morning, with parts of northern Hong Kong including Yuen Long and Ta Kwu Ling already surpassing 35 degrees before noon, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.

The sustained heat followed Sunday’s record-breaking 36.9 degrees – the highest since the Observatory began keeping records in 1884. Yet the lowest-level amber heat stress alert for outdoor workers remained in place, drawing criticism of the Labour Department’s Heat Stress at Work Warning System.

Li Wing-foo, chairman of the Staffs and Workers Union of Hong Kong Civil Airlines, said heat stress warnings should be issued at a district level rather than relying solely on territory-wide readings.

He noted that areas such as the northern New Territories and the airport apron could run far hotter than urban stations.

“The airport apron is wide open and fully exposed. It should have its own independent reading so employers can roll out targeted protections for staff,” he told a radio programme.