As Hong Kong heats up, calls grow for tougher rules to protect outdoor workers
HONG KONG — On a mid-September day, Wong Ping-kuong, 74, and his colleagues worked quickly to spray clean an outdoor staircase and elevator landing. It was only mid-morning, but already hot. The temperature later rose to 31°Celsius (87.8°Fahrenheit). Wong has felt the impact of climate change in the half-century that he has worked as a […]
In Hong Kong, a city grappling with rising temperatures, there is growing concern over the well-being of outdoor workers. Wong Ping-kuong, a 74-year-old construction worker and former outdoor cleaner, has witnessed the intensifying heat firsthand during his five-decade career. As the temperature climbed to a scorching 31°C (87.8°F) on a mid-September day, Wong expressed that sweat is now commonplace on his back, marking a stark contrast to his earlier years when he seldom sweated.
Wong and his colleagues are fortunate as they can retreat to their trucks, where the air conditioning provides temporary respite. However, the rapid onset of heatstroke, which can manifest within 10-15 minutes, remains a significant concern. Outdoor workers are particularly vulnerable to heat-stress-related health issues, including dizziness, headaches, nausea, and potentially severe complications for those with pre-existing conditions like cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Hong Kong is experiencing the consequences of global warming, with temperatures soaring at an alarming rate. The city's temperature has increased by nearly half a degree Celsius per decade, according to official records. The summer months are becoming longer and hotter, with the number of "very hot days" surging fourfold since the 2000s, as documented by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO).
On August 9, HKO recorded a record-breaking temperature of 36.9°C (98.4°F) at its main monitoring station, while certain outskirts of the city soared even higher at 39.8°C (103.6°F).
Unlike other developed nations, Hong Kong faces a unique challenge in safeguarding its outdoor workforce due to the extreme heat they endure.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
