Calls to add resting areas for outdoor workers

Hong Kong's Property Services Alliance has urged the government to establish more resting areas for outdoor workers. This comes after the Labour Department indicated it is exploring ways to improve the Heat Stress at Work Warning system. Currently, only the lowest amber alert has been issued during recent extreme heat conditions.

Mickey Yan, chairman of the alliance, noted that many street workers only take breaks outdoors, often resting in chairs near parks. However, these workers are frequently exposed to direct sunlight and intense heat, even when they move to shade. Yan suggested that going to indoor shelters far from work sites may not be practical when the heat is extremely high. He added that if temperatures are exceptionally intense, returning to a warehouse or office far away is not a feasible option.

Li Wing-foo from the Staffs and Workers Union of Hong Kong Civil Airlines highlighted that temperatures at Chek Lap Kok could exceed 40 degrees Celsius during the day and rise to 35 to 36 degrees at night. He also pointed out that urban areas, such as Sheung Shui and Yuen Long, might experience significant temperature variations.

Unionist lawmaker Lam Chun-sing proposed a dual-track system for the heat stress warning, with specific indicators for different locations when temperatures reach certain levels. For instance, the amber warning could be triggered at 35 degrees Celsius, the red warning at 36 degrees, and the black warning at 37 degrees.