{
  "id": 1424850,
  "title": "Subdivided flat residents swelter in heat that feels like 52°C, climate NGO finds",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/subdivided-flat-residents-swelter-in-heat-that-feels-like-52-c",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-17T05:01:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hong Kong Free Press",
    "slug": "hong-kong-free-press-hongkongfp",
    "url": "https://hongkongfp.com/2026/08/17/subdivided-flat-residents-swelter-in-heat-that-feels-like-52c-climate-ngo-finds/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A climate NGO has discovered that residents in overcrowded \"shoebox\" flats and other low-quality housing experienced unbearable temperatures that felt like 52 degrees Celsius during the summer. The CarbonCare InnoLab surveyed 86 households between June and July, finding that 80 percent were deemed inadequate housing, such as subdivided flats and \"coffin homes.\" The apparent heat felt by tenants reached an alarming 52 degrees Celsius, according to the NGO's report.\n\nSenior Programme Manager Kwok Hiu-chung urged authorities to include heat mitigation measures in the reforms meant to establish minimum living standards and phase out inadequate housing. He emphasized that incorporating heat insulation, shading, ventilation, and cooling equipment into the minimum living standards would enable residents to stay cool and comfortable indoors. The government should also provide heat mitigation subsidies and energy allowances during the summer.\n\nNearly three-quarters of the surveyed residents reported feeling ill due to the heat, suffering from headaches, shortness of breath, fatigue, and muscle cramps. Additionally, 70 percent of the respondents noted that extreme heat adversely affected their sleep quality. The study revealed that average daytime temperatures in inadequate housing reached 29.9 degrees Celsius, while night temperatures hit 29.4 degrees, surpassing the Hong Kong Observatory's \"hot night\" threshold of 28 degrees.\n\nThe NGO's research comes amid a record-breaking heatwave, with temperatures reaching 39.8 degrees Celsius in Sheung Shui and 36.9 degrees Celsius at the Observatory headquarters. While the Basic Housing Units Ordinance, enacted in March, requires subdivided units to meet government-set living standards to be recognized as \"basic housing units,\" it does not set a maximum allowable temperature or mandate cooling equipment. However, it does require an openable window in each room of a subdivided unit.",
  "summary": "Residents living in “shoebox” flats and other inadequate housing have experienced temperatures that feel like 52 degrees Celsius this summer, a climate NGO has found. The CarbonCare InnoLab said in a press conference on Sunday that it took temperature and humidity readings at 86 households over the past two months, 80 per cent of which […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hong Kong Free Press",
        "title": "Subdivided flat residents swelter in heat that feels like 52°C, climate NGO finds",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/subdivided-flat-residents-swelter-in-heat-that-feels-like-52-c-1428014",
        "published": "2026-08-17T05:01:21.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}