Ex-Observatory heads urges government to update Heat Stress at Work

As climate phenomenon El Nino is set to surpass previous records this year, former Director of the Observatory Lam Chiu-ying said he does not exclude the possibility of heat levels in Hong Kong to continue breaking records well into the coming year.

He noted authorities need to strengthen assessments and adjust their calculations for issuing the Heat Stress at Work warning.

With the ocean warming up owing to the effects of climate phenomenon El Nino, Hong Kong has increasingly experienced extreme weather conditions in recent years.

Climatologists have also noted the possibility of a "Super El Nino" event at the end of this year.

Speaking on a TVB News programme, former Director of the Observatory Lam Chiu-ying said while tropical cyclones have reduced in numbers over recent years, there has been an increase in their strength, adding that higher temperatures should be a cause for concern.

Lam said the blistering weather conditions may well continue into the following year, mostly depending on the duration of the El Nino phenomenon.

He said he is worried that the combination of global warming and the El Nino event could result in record-breaking heat across the world.

Lam, well known for not using air-conditioners, said he was tempted to turn one on earlier this year and may soon be tempted again.

Addressing the issue of workers working under hot weather conditions, the former Observatory chief suggested authorities to adopt the international Wet-bulb globe temperature measurement to assess the need to issue the Heat Stress at Work warning.

Pointing to sources indicating that the city's highest temperature is concentrated in the Northern Metropolis area, Lam proposed developers to plant more trees and preserve wetlands at the development site to resolve this problem.