Poor forced outside as subdivided flats sizzle

Most people would prefer to stay indoors during very hot weather, but for subdivided flat tenants, temperatures in their homes can sometimes be up to five degrees higher than those outside.

A green group took 24-hour temperature measurements at three-minute intervals in five subdivided flats over the period from July 22 to August 10.

It found that the temperatures indoors at the hottest time of the day were usually higher than temperatures outside.

"The cost of electricity is a big financial burden on these families. Sometimes they do not turn on the air-conditioner even when it's very hot. It's affecting their health," said William Yu Yuen-ping, chief executive officer of World Green Organisation, which conducted the survey.

In the five flats in Kwun Tong, Mong Kok, Tai Kok Tsui and Tin Shui Wai, the temperature usually rose in the morning, fell towards evening, but rose again by about one degree Celsius later in the night.

Yu said the small spaces and lack of ventilation were to blame as the heat from cooking and electrical appliances stayed in the flat.