Hong Kong aiming to revamp heat-stress warning system by end of this month

The Hong Kong labour minister, Chris Sun Yuk-han, announced plans to overhaul the city's heat-stress warning system by the end of August, responding to criticism that the alert level was insufficient during a heatwave that saw record-breaking temperatures. The revamped system will involve setting new activation thresholds for temperature, humidity, wind, solar radiation, and hospital admissions, which are currently used to trigger alerts.

The aim is to ensure more seamless operation and better reflect the working conditions faced by outdoor workers, considering the challenges posed by climate change. The Labour Department, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Observatory, is working to lower the thresholds for temperature and solar radiation, making it easier to issue higher-tier alerts during extreme heat.

Current critics argue that the system's heat index, which combines air temperature, wet-bulb temperature, and globe temperature, does not adequately account for the intense heating effect of sunshine, a factor that significantly impacts workers. The warning system, launched in May 2023, provides three levels of advisory - amber, red, and black - for outdoor work, encouraging employers to provide extra rest breaks, suspend heavy labor, or halt work entirely depending on the severity of the heat.