Hong Kong labour authorities say they will review the city’s heat-stress warning system after temperatures hit record levels but the alert remained at the lowest level for outdoor workers. The pledge follows public and expert criticism that the system did not escalate even as conditions became extreme, including a reported 36.9°C on Sunday at the Hong Kong Observatory.
Officials say the current system is designed to respond more to “muggy weather” than to pure heat and strong sunlight. Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui says the department is working with the Observatory to improve warnings, including consideration of lowering thresholds for higher-tier alerts during abnormally hot weather. Some experts and unionists also call for changes to the measurement method to place greater weight on direct sunlight, and for additional heat-stress monitoring stations. Unionists further press for legal adjustments to recognise heatstroke as a work-related injury, which would entitle workers to compensation. The proposed reforms reflect differing views on whether the index currently used gives sufficient weight to radiation and other factors affecting worker safety.
