Heat Stress at Work warning remains at amber despite extreme heat

Amid blistering weather conditions, the Heat Stress at Work warning remains at the lowest Amber level.

This as two former heads of the Observatory urge the Labour Department to update the heat warning and adopt the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature system.

Some in the labour sector also notes the importance of raising awareness among workers about taking breaks.

Hong Kong continues to bake under the sun as several areas across the city recorded temperatures surpassing 34 degrees Celsius this afternoon.

Weather authorities have recorded temperatures of 33 degrees or above for nine consecutive days -- breaking previous records in August.

Owing to the effects of a southwest airflow, Hong Kong is also set to experience heavier rainfall while temperatures gradually drop.

The city will see some of the heaviest thunderstorms and strong gusts between tonight and Friday.

As Hong Kong's Heat Stress at Work warning remained at the lowest amber level throughout the last few days, two former directors of the Observatory took the opportunity to urge the Labour Department to adjust the current system.

Lee Boon-ying and Shun Chi-ming say the Labour Department's Heat Stress at Work warning rolled out in 2023 primarily targets those who work outdoors.

But they stress the system's pairing with the heat index rolled out in 2014 is a mistake.

Lee says the index's purpose is to determine whether more people will enter the hospital owing to the weather, adding it is incompatible with the Heat Stress at Work warning.

The pair also criticise the bar for upgrading the warning for being too high and essentially ineffective, and echo fellow ex-Observatory Director Lam Chiu-ying's call for the heat warning to adopt the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature system.

This as some lawmakers also share their thoughts on raising workers' awareness for rest during such weather conditions.

Lawmaker Lee Kwong-yu says the labour sector should encourage workers stay vigilant about injuries and other health conditions they could potentially suffer when working in the heat for too long.

He proposes items such as fans and other products for preventing heat stroke should be placed in the same locations as hard hats.