High-density housing in Kowloon has been blamed for heating up the peninsula, after a study found that densely populated areas were more than five degrees hotter than elsewhere.
Environmental group Green Power found that the western and central parts of Kowloon were a lot warmer than the east. It said the so-called 'heat island effect' was partly responsible for smog build-up and increased energy consumption.
Readings were taken at 16 sites along a 3,180-metre stretch from western Kowloon, near Kowloon Station, to Hunghom Pier on August 14 last year and July 15 this year.
It was found that Hunghom was an average 5.5 degrees cooler than central Kowloon and 3.9 degrees cooler than near Kowloon Station.
The highest temperature of about 37 degrees was taken at the junction of Wylie Road and Gascoigne Road, in the heart of the peninsula.
Dr Cheng Luk-ki, head of research for Green Power, said the temperature differences were probably due to high-density housing on the central and western part, plus prevailing easterly breezes.
'There are massive areas of road surface in western Kowloon which absorb excessive heat, while high-density buildings could trap the heat within the area,' he said. Dr Cheng said the resulting higher energy consumption in urban areas, due to increased use of air-conditioners, increased the heating effect further.
